I want to understand your pain: Rahul

Excelsior Correspondent
SONAMARG, KASHMIR, Oct 4: Reaching out to the people of Kashmir, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi today said he wants to understand their “pain” and help connect them with the development of the country.
On a visit to Kashmir after a year, Gandhi said the youth in the State should join the development process taking place in the country in various sectors such as education, health, infrastructure and electricity.
“I want to establish a relationship with you. A lifelong relationship,” he said addressing a public gathering here, while recalling the close ties between Sheikh Abdullah and his great grandfather Jawaharlal Nehru and his father Rajiv Gandhi’s strong links with Farooq Abdullah.
Gandhi said that he wants to work with State Chief Minister Omar Abdullah similarly for betterment of the State.
The Congress General Secretary was the guest of honour during the foundation lying ceremony of a tunnel here to provide all weather connectivity between Srinagar and Leh.
“I have two goals here. First is to establish a relation with you and understand your pain deeply…. Second goal is to connect Kashmiri youth with the development process,” Gandhi said, adding that the nation is growing rapidly and the same should happen in Kashmir.
Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways C P Joshi, New and Renewable Energy Minister Farooq Abdullah  and Omar Abdullah were present during the occasion.
Promising to return to the State soon, he also said that Government is taking measures to ensure all weather connectivity between various parts of Jammu and Kashmir.
“I was told that Ladakh is disconnected from rest of the State during winters. I have been told that steps are being taken to address this issue,” Gandhi said.
“The country is progressing and Jammu and Kashmir should also progress the same way in sectors like education, health, infrastructure and electricity. I appeal to the youth of the State to join hands in the progress of the State and the country,” Gandhi said.
Recalling his family ties with Kashmir, the Lok Sabha MP from Amethi said, “my family has come from Kashmir and we are Kashmiris. No power can separate us.”
Gandhi said during his visit to Kashmir last year, he was told that Ladakh and Sonamarg remain cut off from the rest of the State due to snowfall.
“This project is a step towards connecting the areas,” he said.
The 6.5 km long two-lane tunnel at Z-Morh is being built at a total capital cost of Rs 2,717 crore. It will be constructed by Border Roads Organisation (BRO) in five years time with a concession period of 20 years.
BRO Director General Lieutenant General S Ravi Shankar who was present during the ceremony said, “we are hopeful of completing the tunnel ahead of the schedule. It is expected to be completed by Aug 2018.”
The tunnel will be built on build, operate and transfer (annuity) basis.
Earlier addressing the gathering, Farooq Abdullah applauded the young Congress leader and said, “I can see a day when Rahul will become the Prime Minister of the country.”
On his part, Omar Abdullah described the Congress leader as his “personal friend”.
The Chief Minister said the dream to connect Sonamarg to Leh via Kargil is going to get fulfilled.
“People here face much hardship, especially during winters as they remain cut-off from the rest of the State or they have to leave their shelters… The tunnel will be completed in five years and after that work will begin on Zozila tunnel,” he said.
Road Secretary A K Upadhyay, meanwhile, also shared the Ministry’s plans to construct another tunnel at Zozila to connect the State capital with Kargil and Leh.
With the project cost of Rs 5500 crore, the 13 km long tunnel will ensure all weather connectivity between Srinagar-Leh and Kargil, he said.
Rahul complimented the panchayat system of Leh saying this model should be practised in the entire country.
“The model of Panchayati Raj which this region is following is far more effective than the one practiced in Uttar Pradesh. This model is going to set an example for the entire nation,” Gandhi  said.
Leh district has nine blocks with over 600 panchayat members. All the developmental work in carried out by Sarpanchs and Panchs after calling tenders for the work to be executed.
He had a meeting with members of Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council.
“I had a briefing from the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council and I’m extremely happy for the work they have done for the rehabilitation of people after the tragic landslide,” Gandhi, who was dressed in a local Ladakhi dress, said.
Besides connectivity, he also highlighted that the region needed education, promotion of tourism and good employment.
He also said that air connectivity was important for the people of the region because on a number of occasions local people who fell sick could not be given best possible medical care because of lack of air connectivity.
Gandhi said he had a meeting with Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh and will take up the issue further.
Meanwhile, Union Road Transport and Highways Minister C P Joshi laid the foundation stone for a 6.5 km tunnel that will provide all-weather connectivity between Srinagar and this highway resort on Srinagar-Ladakh road.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Union Minister Farooq Abdullah, Union Minister of State for Home Jeetendra Singh and Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi were also present at the function here, 85 kilometres from Srinagar.
Officials said the tunnel between Z-Morh and Gagangir will be constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 2,700 crore and would be completed in five years.
They said it will be the first step towards providing an all weather link between Ladakh region and the rest of the State as another tunnel is proposed to be constructed across the Zozila to connect Sonamarg with Drass sector on the Srinagar-Leh national highway.
The areas beyond Z-Morh, including Sonamarg and Ladakh region, generally remain cut off from Kashmir for nearly six months due to heavy snowfall during winter.
Even as the foundation laying ceremony was going on, the area witnessed the first snowfall of this season.
Union Minister Farooq Abdullah said time was not far when Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi will become the Prime Minister and advised him to look up to his mother Sonia Gandhi for inspiration to fight his adversaries.
“Time is not far when Rahul will be the Prime Minister. There will be troubles along the way but he can look up to his mother who has remained steadfast to fight the adversaries and make Congress party strong,” Abdullah said.
In an apparent advice to third generation leaders from Abdullah and Gandhi families – Omar and Rahul – the Union Minister said there will be problems along their way but they should remain steadfast in their endeavours.
“Jawaharlal Nehru and Sheikh Abdullah joined hands for a progressive Kashmir. You (Rahul and Omar) should carry forward that work,” he said.
“I want to tell Rahul Gandhi that we are Indians and shall remain Indians till we live. We should join hands for a prosperous Kashmir and prosperous India,” he said.
Addressing the gathering, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah reiterated the necessity of addressing political issues of Jammu and Kashmir stressing on initiation of Centre-State internal dialogue.
“While we have to negotiate various challenges on development front and deal with militancy related issues, we have to focus on addressing political issues of the State simultaneously”, he said adding that he is advocating this aspect continuously for the larger interest of the country and the State. He said that the dialogue process between Centre and the State should resume like restoration of Indo-Pak talks.
Omar expressed the hope that UPA Government would focus on accelerating the process of addressing Jammu and Kashmir centric issues and initiate Centre-State internal dialogue to help strengthen the bonds with the country and ensure holistic development and welfare of the people in a peaceful and tranquil atmosphere. “This would also help in strengthening better State-Centre ties, unity and love between all regions of Jammu and Kashmir and permanent peace and progress in the region”, he added.
Expressing gratitude to Union Government for actively responding to the demand of the State Government for boring tunnels at Z-Morh and Zozila Pass to ensure all weather, safe connectivity and faster communication to Ladakh region, he expressed confidence that Union Government will show similar gesture regarding other proposed tunnels at Razdan Pass in Gurez, Sadhana Pass in Tangdar, Kishtwar-Violo tunnel, tunnels on Mughal Road and other roads to help linking of remote and cut-off areas. The Chief Minister appreciated Border Roads Organization for working in extreme conditions to keep highways pliable in the State especially during winter.
Omar said that the construction of tunnels and well-nit road connectivity is of greater significance for a hilly State like Jammu and Kashmir where remoteness and difficult terrain hampers development and economic growth besides putting the people under hardships during winter months.
He said that the coalition Government has flagged road connectivity as one of the most important concerns in the development policy adding that focused attention is being given to this sector to open up unconnected and far-flung areas.
Underlining the importance of 4-laning of Pathankote- Srinagar, Srinagar-Uri and Srinagar-Leh National Highways, he said that the prestigious projects taken in hand to achieve this target require fast tracking of work to ensure timely completion. He said that while construction of Z-Morh tunnel is a significant step towards upgrading the status of Srinagar-Leh National Highway and making journey easy and fast the construction of Zozila tunnel is imperative to make Ladakh accessible throughout the year.
Omar expressed the hope that the construction of 13 kilometer long 2-lane Zozila tunnel will be taken in hand as early as possible. He also hoped that the 2-lane 6.5 kilometer long Z-Morh tunnel will be constructed on fast track and completed within the fixed time frame.
The Chief Minister welcomed Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Dr. C. P. Joshi and General Secretary Indian National Congress, (INC) Rahul Gandhi for being present on the foundation laying ceremony of Z-Morh Tunnel.

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