Indo-Pak relations have direct bearing on J&K: Omar

‘PDP habitual of selling good deeds of others’
Excelsior Correspondent

DARHAL (Rajouri), Apr 25: Stating that Indo-Pak relations have direct bearing on the peace and development of Jammu and Kashmir, Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah on Wednesday expressed the hope that the restoration of dialogue process between the two countries would be carried on to the logical end.
Addressing a huge public gathering here, the Chief Minister said that the peace was pre-requisite to economic prosperity and all round development. “You have witnessed the benefits of peaceful 2011 in the shape of economic activities with fast tracking of development across the State”, he added.
The Chief Minister said that while his Government is facilitating political addressing of the political issues of Jammu and Kashmir with focused attention, it is wholeheartedly involved in the resolution of day-to-day problems of the people making justice and equitable development benchmark of governance.
“History is witness to the path breaking and innovative initiatives taken by the Coalition Government in the State on political and development fronts to restore peace and march ahead on road to prosperity”, he said listing the major achievements registered during the last three years in the State by present dispensation with special reference to the comprehensive development in the sectors relating to the delivery of basic amenities to the people. He said the Government has reached out to every area in the process of development with a committed approach to seek welfare of all areas and all sections of the society equitably.
Denouncing People’s Democratic Party’s petty politicking and false propagandist approach to astray people and divert their attention from the large scale development process set in by the Coalition Government in the State, Omar Abdullah said that self praising and slogan raising has remained characteristics of this party since its inception. “This party (PDP) is habitual of selling the good deeds of others in their own name”, he said, adding that party has miserably failed to deliver on its own when it was at the helm in the State.
Citing the example of opening of Uri-Muzaffarabad road by the two heads of the countries of India and Pakistan, the Chief Minister said that the leadership of the party (Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and Mehbooba Mufti) are still selling the initiative under their brand name. “Same is case with so many other initiatives”, he added.
Taking PDP leadership to task for fooling the people on various counts including on the issue of corruption, the Chief Minister said that during the PDP dispensation, the party did nothing solid to address the menace of corruption. He said it is his Government which constituted State Accountability Commission, strengthened Accountability Commission and brought in Public Service Guarantee Act to check the corruption at all levels and book the culprits under the law.
“Removing a few officials from service to pretend to be against corruption is something else and enforcing law to bring everyone from top to bottom in the Government under the public scan and subservient to the law of the land is something different”, he added taking another dig on PDP which during its tenure removed some officials from the service on corruption charges but most of them re-entered back in the service through court verdicts as the cases were too weak to stand the test in the court of law.
Omar Abdullah said that peace and progress with thrust on creation of economic activities and job opportunities is the endeavour of NC-Congress alliance. “We are working to mitigate difficulties of people and restore peace and stability in the State”, he said, adding that the impact of balanced development unleashed in the State during the last three years is amply visible on ground. “The next three years will witness further fillip and fast tracking of development in the State”, he said.
On Public Service Guarantee Act (PSGA), Omar Abdullah said his Government has empowered people to obtain some 50 public services from 6 departments of Power, PHE, CAPD, Housing, Transport and Revenue in a time bound manner. He said the Government functionaries have been made responsible for delivery of services in a time bound manner to the consumers.
“Any official to be found showing laxity or failing in providing the particular service in a fixed time frame is liable for a fine up to Rs 5000 which will be deducted from his salary”, he said explaining that a portion of this fine will be given to the affected consumer as compensation.
“My Government has effected topsy-turvy in the prevailing system of service delivery”, he said, adding that instead of paying bribe for getting smaller services like electricity or water connection, ration card or driving license, revenue papers or house building permission, state subject or category certificate, the consumers would now get compensation out of the fine imposed on the erring officials for not delivering the service in the fixed time limit.
On the development of Darhal area, Omar Abdullah said that during the last three years over Rs 8.35 crores have been spent in the area on the upgradation of education. He said 18 new primary schools have been opened, three middle schools upgraded to high schools level, 40 primary schools upgraded to middle schools level besides regularizing 180 Rehber-e-Taleem teachers. Another Rs 90 lakhs are being spent on Darhal schools for upgradation of infrastructure.
Stating that he will work out sanctioning Rs 2.40 crore Grid Station at Raqeeba in Darhal area, the Chief Minister said that power development project involving Rs 12 crore for the area has already been presented to the Centre Government for funding. He said another project for tourism development costing Rs 8 crore is also in the pipeline for Darhal. He said Rs 1.70 crore are being spent on the improvement and upgradation of tourist facilities in the area.
The Chief Minister said that Rs 8 crores have been spent on the water supply schemes in Darhal area during the last two years while more schemes costing Rs 16.40 crores have been sanctioned. He said Rs 18.70 crores are being spent in the area under NABARD to improve and upgrade road communication sector.
On the demand for Degree College at Darhal, Omar Abdullah said that the college for the area would be actively considered in the next lot of colleges to be sanctioned for more areas in the State. “My endeavour would be to include Darhal Degree College in the next list of colleges to be granted to various areas”, he told the people amidst applause.
Minister for Forests, Mian Altaf Ahmad, in his speech, castigated People’s Democratic Party for indulging in undemocratic and anti-people activities. He said this party’s only agenda is to mislead people and create wedge between various sections of the society. He said the party leadership tried its hard during the last three years to throw mud on National Conference but failed miserably as ‘lie has no legs to stand upon’.
The public meeting was also addressed by Minister of State for Tourism, Nasir Aslam Wani, former Minster, Mirza Abdul Rashid and Provincial president, NC, Rattan Lal Gupta.
Earlier, Chief Minister paid obeisance at the Holy Shrine of Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah popularly known as Shahdara Sharief, situated on a hillock amidst Pir Panchal range about 6.5 kilometres from Thana Mandi on Rajouri-Poonch road. He prayed for the peace and prosperity of the State and well being of the people.
Omar Abdullah laid foundation of Baitul Zaireen and other allied works at Shahdara Sharief. The main component of the building complex is a double storey structure to be completed at a cost of over Rs 2.63 crores.
Minister for Forests, Mian Altaf Ahmad, Minister for Tourism, Nawang Rigzin Jora, Minister of State for Tourism, Nasir Aslam Wani and Minister of State for Power Shabir Ahmad Khan were present on the occasion.
In the morning, the Chief Minister met various deputations from different political parties, social organizations, advocates, traders and representing different areas of the district.
They apprised the Chief Minister matters pertaining to their concern. He gave patient hearing and said that the genuine demands projected in the memoranda would be given due consideration.
The Chief Minister in the officers meeting directed the district administration to devote fullest attention for assuring time bound public service to the people. He also laid stress for completing the schemes well within the targeted time frame.
He directed for exploring possibilities of expanding animal rearing activities and upgrading sheep farms in the district. He also asked for formulating befitting scheme for the welfare of cocoon producers of the area.
The Chief Minster was also apprised that over Rs. 120 crores have been spend in Rajouri district during the last year on various development projects under the district plan and allied schemes.