Excelsior Correspondent
KATRA, Apr 7: Advocate Rattan Lal Gupta, Provincial President of Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (JKNC) today asked the Central Government to honour its commitment of restoring Statehood to J&K.
“The people of Jammu and Kashmir have played their inning fairly and bravely in the journey to restore democracy in the region. Now, it is imperative for the Central Government to honor its commitment by promptly restoring full-fledged Statehood to the J&K,” he said, while addressing a day-long workers’ convention at the holy town of Katra. The meeting was held under the chairmanship of Raj Kumar Sharma, District President Reasi.
Making a strong appeal, the senior NC leader urged the Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who is currently on a three-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir, to take concrete steps towards fulfilling the Centre’s commitment of restoring Statehood.
Rattan Lal Gupta emphasized that the continued denial of statehood is not only unjustified but also a betrayal of repeated assurances given by the country’s top leadership i.e, Prime Minister and Home Minister on multiple occasions.
“The return to a full-fledged democratic setup with an elected Government and legislative powers is essential for ensuring equitable development and safeguarding the unique identity of Jammu and Kashmir,” he added.
Seeking blessings from Mata Vaishno Devi, Rattan Lal Gupta asked the party cadre to gear up for the upcoming Panchayat and Urban Local Bodies polls in J&K. He emphasized that these grassroots-level elections are crucial for empowering people at the village and municipal levels, and that the National Conference must ensure a strong presence to uphold democratic values. He urged workers to reach out to every household, strengthen booth-level committees, and spread awareness about the party’s vision for inclusive development and restoration of people’s rights.
Earlier, Raj Kumar Sharma, District President Reasi and Ashok Mehta Block President Katra apprised the senior functionaries of the party about the growing discontent among people due to lack of basic amenities and developmental stagnation by the earlier Government headed by the BJP in J&K. “Development has come to a grinding halt due to the hollow policies of the previous administration. The local populace is bearing the brunt of bureaucratic indifference,” they said.
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