Excelsior Correspondent
AKHNOOR, Feb 8: Pradesh Congress Committee chief Prof Saif-ud-Din Soz today said that no decision has been taken as yet on the seat sharing between the Congress and National Conference (NC) in the coming Lok Sabha elections.
At an informal chat with media persons at the sidelights of party’s rally here, today, Prof Soz said the talks are going on between the leaders of the two alliance partners i.e NC and Congress in this regard but no decision has been taken as yet.
Responding to the question that NC has said that it will field candidates for all three Lok Sabha seats from Kashmir Valley in the ensuing elections, he said “ the decision is yet to be taken in this regard’’.
On allegations leveled against the former Health Minister Shabir Ahmed Khan, he said that law will take its own course and his party will not take any sides in this regard. However he demanded that there should be a thorough inquiry in the matter.
He declined to admit that his party Ministers were always being made target and said that one can’t reach to such conclusions.
Making a scathing attack on BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, he termed him a fascist saying that India is the country of people of all communities and only Congress can keep it together.
He also defended Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi for saying that PM should have apologized for 1984 anti Sikh riots and termed him a simple and honest politician under whose leadership India will be emerge a strong nation.
Earlier addressing the largely attended public meeting Prof Soz declared that Rahul Gandhi will be soon visiting Jammu and address a big rally there. He appealed the people to attend the rally in large numbers.
To take the full advantage of creating the new administrative blocks in the State, by the coalition Government Prof Soz Made a fervent appeal to the people to vote for the party in ensuing Lok Sabha elections.
The rally was organized by Minister of PHE, Irrigation & Flood Control Sham Lal Sharma. Prof Soz said that not only in Jammu region Congress is vibrant in all three regions of the State and it has controlled both the hill development councils in Ladakh region.
Cautioning the people against the communal and divisive forces, he said they pose a threat to the secular fabric of the State and the nation. The Congress has always projected and promoted the interests of all sections of the people of the country, he added. Referring to the Party’s struggle for incorporation of 73rd amendment in the State Panchayati Raj Act he said that it would further empower the Panchayati Raj institutions in the State. The recommendations made by the Party for empowerment of Panchayati Raj institutions in the State would be accepted by the Government without any dilution.
Referring to the demands of the different sections of the refugees Prof Soz said that the comprehensive package for their upliftment, welfare and redressal of genuine demands yet to be forwarded by the State Government to the Centre for financial package. He while urging the State Government to immediately forward the relief package to Centre Government, said the Central Government is also positive to extend financial support to these refugees.
He also referred to recent steps taken by Union Government in granting minority status to Jain community and OBC status to Jatt community and said that he has taken up the demands of Jatt community of the State with union Home Minister Susheel Kumar Shinde.
He said he recently met the Union Railway Minister along with MP Jammu Poonch Lok Sabha seat Madan Lal Sharma and took up the issue of railway line project between Jammu-Poonch and said that Rs 13612.81 crore project is under examination of the Union Government.
Addressing the rally Sham Lal Sharma said that rail link from Jammu to Poonch via Akhnoor once implemented will connect the border and hilly areas of Rajouri and Poonch districts with the rest of the country and will transform socio-economic status of the people.
Sham Lal called upon various communities to work for strengthening the bonds of communal harmony and mutual brotherhood which is must for prosperous and healthy society.
Listening the initiative taken for development during last five years in Akhnoor tehsil he said several projects have been taken up in hand like 100 bedded hospital, mini Secretariat, heritage site complex, community hall, vegetable market, Ayurvedic and Nursing College, number of bridges, degree college etc.
Member Parliament Madan Lal Sharma termed the reports totally baseless that the Railway link project to Poonch has been shelved. He said that Railway Ministry ahs written a letter to him in this regard saying reports appearing about it were baseless.
He while highlighting the programmes and policies of UPA Government, he asked the people to avail benefits of various schemes launched by the Government under centrally sponsored schemes in the State. In the last five years a massive development has taken place in rural and far flung areas, he added.
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