Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 3: Describing his tenure of nearly six years as an era of heralding peace and fulfilling developmental agenda, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said that National Conference has a range of political and development issues to work through in the ensuing years.
“As a result of sincere efforts, Jammu and Kashmir has traversed a long way from uncertainty to political stability and deprivation to economic emancipation in a big way during the recent years, the Chief Minister, who is also the working president of National Conference, said while addressing a meeting of his party candidates nominated for ensuing Assembly elections in the Jammu region.
“This momentum has to be maintained by aiming at consolidating peace and accelerating development”, he declared.
Mr Omar Abdullah said the party nominees have a stupendous task of satiating the yearning for development among the people and meeting the challenge of negative forces, who are attempting to vitiate the atmosphere for lust of power.
“Our objectives are well defined; we want to empower the people, make them part of the system; give them a more responsive and vibrant administration, end corruption and undertake massive development in all the three regions and their sub-regions”, he said, adding that an ambitious beginning has been made after braving numerous obstacles.
He spelled out the successes achieved on economic and developmental fronts during the past over five and half years, saying these have brought a complete turnaround in the situation across the State. The commitments made to people have been kept and a sincere effort is being made to enhance quality of their life.
In this context, he referred in detail the status of high priority projects and implementation of various welfare schemes in all the three regions of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh. He dwelt upon initiatives taken by his Government in implementing Sixth Pay Commission mmendations, generating employability, enhancing age of retirement and the upper age limit of unemployed joining Government service, filling up of vacancies, incentives to unemployed besides upgrading utility services, improving conditions of those living in remote areas and belonging to weaker sections of society. He also made a mention of Panchayat elections held after 33 years, which he described as a significant initative to involve the rural people in decision making.
“As a result of sustained efforts and discernible turnaround in the overall situation and developmental scenario, the mindset of people has changed, as they are now feeling as stakeholders in progress and development of the State”, the Working President said.
Referring to upcoming elections, Omar Abdullah said the National Conference campaign will be development oriented as the party believes in sustaining peace and ensuring development to be befitting answer to rhetoric of opponents who have nothing to offer to the people. He exhorted the contesting candidates to eschew tendencies of getting provoked by malicious propaganda of opponents, saying they had not much to say except undermining the good work done during the past about six years.
“We have done a good job, especially in providing basic core services and facilities”, he said adding that this is the vision we have to carry forward during the upcoming elections”. He said National Conference had a range of political and developmental issues to work through between now and the coming years. He said the party that has stood for the unity and special entity of Jammu and Kashmir cannot allow forces inimical to this ethos succeed.
“It is this area where you have to work sincerely and tirelessly to ensure that the unity and tranquillity among the people does not get jeopradised”, the Chief Minister said and referred to the challenges National Conference has met courageously since its inception.
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