Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 19: Welcoming the extension of Railway line to Kashmir, BJP senior leader & Rajouri-Poonch Incharge Kuldeep Raj Gupta demanded that the border districts of Rajouri and Poonch be also connected with rail link to rest of the country.
Kuldeep Raj Gupta, while addressing media persons at party headquarters here today along with State press secretary Balbir Ram Rattan, alleged that Rajouri and Poonch districts have been always discriminated like other districts of Jammu province in matters related to development and extending benefits of welfare schemes.
He said that Kashmir has always remained on top agenda of the successive Governments in the State. He said that connecting Kashmir Valley with rail is welcomed but at the same time it is unfortunate that despite repeated promises of bringing Rajouri and Poonch on railway map, nothing has been done in this regard, which itself speaks that Kashmir is preferred over Jammu. He said that Rajouri and Poonch districts too have great tourism potential and can attract a large number of outsiders if the districts are connected by rail.
Mr Gupta said that the hapless people of Rajouri and Poonch districts have been made to suffer from Pakistan as well as at the hands of their own elected Governments. He said that these people suffered during 1947, 1965, 1971 and during Kargil war. They have also been suffering during the last over 23 years of proxy war by Pakistan. Besides, their suffering have increased on account of the discriminatory policies of the Government, he added.
He said that there is no community hall, no labour sarai in Rajouri and the old Town Hall which was dismantled for upgradation is still in shambles for the last three years. To ease the traffic congestion in Rajouri city, a bridge which was proposed to be built, is still a dream. Delay in holding elections to local bodies is too adding to the problems of the people, he alleged.
Gupta said that the continuance of discrimination with twin districts will force the people to come on roads and the State Government will be responsible for the consequences.
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