Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Dec 9: People’s Democratic Party president, Mehbooba Mufti has said in spite of having voted continuously for the National Conference, over last 40 years, backward areas like Karnah, Kupwara and Gurez are languishing in almost in stone age, because of lack of infrastructure.
Addressing a largely attended public meeting at Taad area of Karnah constituency near Line of Actual Control, she said the interests of residents of border areas are crucial to her party’s vision of making Jammu and Kashmir a bridge between India and Pakistan and lifting the post independence siege laid around the state.
On this occasion the party Chief Spokesperson, Naeem Akhtar, senior leader and MLA Abdul Haq Khan and state secretary, Zaffar Iqbal Manhas, Raja Manzoor, Javaid Mirchal, Gh Mohammd Mir, Fayaz Ahmad Mir and others spoke on the occasion.
On way from Tangdhar to Taad, Mehbooba addressed a number of way side meetings mostly compromising women and youth.
Mehbooba said the infrastructure problems in Tangdhar sub division have remained completely unattended, perhaps because of the uninterrupted run of the National Conference which emerged winner from this area for most part of its history, because of emotional exploitation and, lately it benefited from fragmentation of the opposition vote.
She said the people of the area are now realising the value of democratic competition, as with the shape of the PDP their problems are getting projected.
“The people of Karnah constituency have rejected the NC even in 2008 election, as its candidates got only four thousand votes, as against more than 18 thousand votes polled by its opponents, which were invalidated because of fragmentation. Now, the people are realising that it is only through unity among the anti-NC voters that the party can be defeated,” she said condition of roads is worst.
She said the health facilities in the area should have received priority because of difficult terrain but the main hospital there does not have even X-Ray facility
The newly constructed hospital building has developed cracks putting at risk of lives of patients and medical staff. The school in the area have been completely neglected and students are forced to seek admission in far away Srinagar.
Mehbooba said, though, as a result of mounting public pressure some mobile service providers including the BSNL extended their services to Tanghdar, but many areas are still craving for the facility.
Mehbboba regretted the irrigation canals, in the area have been left unattended, which were damaged by the flash floods in 1994 and the roads under PMGSY are incomplete because of contractor-politician nexus. The area is facing huge power crisis and promises made about starting a hydel project in the area has never been fulfilled.
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