Excelsior Correspondent
SUCHETGARH, Oct 22: Abdullian, the latest spot in Suchetgarh Sector of Jammu region braving the brunt of intermittent shelling from Pakistani troops, witnessed unique bonhomie on Tuesday when the leaders of National Conference, Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party shared a common stage to express solidarity with the suffering dwellers. As the leaders of these parties were on visit to the area in the wake of night long shelling, Provincial President National Conference Devender Singh Rana invited them to the stage, saying this was a common cause and not an occasion to play politics. The leaders joined and expressed concern over the situation.
While interacting with a huge group of sufferers present there, Mr Rana expressed serious concern over the unabated border firing resulting in panic among the villagers and said the situation calls for immediate end. He reiterated his party’s demand to the Centre for prevailing upon Pakistan to bring halt to the unwarranted situation, having potential of jeopradising peace. He said war is no solution to solving issues and hoped that the other side will appreciate the necessity of maintaining calm on the borders by adhering to the ceasefire agreement that worked well for about a decade and rekindled new hope of tranquility in the region.
Referring to the problems confronted to the border residents, the Provincial President said the trauma they were constantly undergoing can neither be felt in New Delhi nor in Islamabad. Therefore, he said, the only alternative is to engage Pakistan in a substantive dialogue to defuse the situation.
Besides senior National Conference leaders, including Taranjeet Singh Tony, the local BJP MLA Sham Lal Choudhary and senior Congress leader Darshan Raina were also present on the occasion.
Urging people not to get panicky as the Government was seized of the situation, Mr Rana hoped that border dwellers will brave this temporary phase with the same spirit they have been demonstrating over the decades. He lauded their valour for being the front line soldiers of the nation and said the people of the entire State and the country were behind them at this hour of crisis.
To combat loss to human life, Mr Rana suggested setting up of concrete community bunkers so that people can take shelter in the wake of shelling from across the borders. He also reiterated the demand for exploring possibilities of inclusive insurance, covering life and crops in the affected areas. “The Government should explore this on urgent basis”, he demanded.
The Provincial President also pitched for setting up of a Border Development Authority for the holistic and sustained development of the border areas with thrust on basics like road communication, drinking water, irrigation and other utility services. He sought urgent consideration of a special employment package in recruitment to central para military forces and the armed forces for youth living along the borders from Kathua to Gurez, as has already been projected by the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah before the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and a Central Team that visited Srinagar early this summer.
The BJP and Congress leaders also expressed solidarity with the border dwellers, saying the people of the State were concerned about their well being and safety.
Those who accompanied the Provincial President during his tour to the border habitations included Rattan Lal Gupta, Sheikh Bashir Ahmad, Babu Ram Paul, Dhramveer Singh Jamwal, Balwinder Singh, Dr. Surjeet Bhagat, Raj Kumar and Rohit Bali.
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