Jammu, November 26 (Scoop News) –A joint meeting of Indian National Congress and J&K National Conference was held at Doda which was presided over by Minister for Medical Education, Technical Education, YSS R.S. Chib, while as Minister of State for Fisheries, Rural Development, Haj & Auqaf, Animal & Sheep Husbandry Aijaz Ahmed Khan was guest of honour.
Among others, Legislators, Abdul Majid Wani, Ghulam Mohammad Saroori, Ashok Kumar, Khalid Najib Suhrawardhy, Naresh Gupta and former legislators Dr. Chaman Lal and Kashmira Singh from National Conference, besides Sham Lal Bhagat and Dr. Shehnaz Ganai, both the contesting candidates of Coalition Partners for two seats of Legislative Council also attended the meeting. The Sarpanches and Panches belonging to both National Conference and Indian National Congress attended the meeting in a large number along with block Presidents of Congress and National Conference.
Chib, while addressing the gathering highlighted the achievements of Coalition Government, headed by the young and dynamic Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah and having full blessings of President, All India Congress Committee and Chairperson, UPA Smt. Sonia Gandhi. He made special mention of the various steps undertaken by the Government to usher an era of peace and development in the State. He also said that the credit for rejuvenating Panchayati Raj in the State also goes to the present Coalition Government of Congress and National Conference. It was further said that this is after a long spell of 30 years that J&K Legislative Council will have four representatives two each from Kashmir and Jammu Divisions, adding that it will enable Panches and Sarpanches to have their voice through their representatives in the State Legislature. He also said that filling up these four seats of Legislative Council earmarked for Panchayats speaks about the honest intentions of the Coalition Government to strengthen Panchayati Raj Institutions in the State. He expressed his full confidence that the Government will take every possible step to take power to the grass root level for the empowerment of the common man which is the basic idea of Panchayati Raj Institutions. He also mentioned that provisions of 73rd Amendment will be incorporated in the Panchayati Raj Act of Jammu and Kashmir. He appealed to all the Panchs and Sarpanchs to use their franchise in favour of Coalition candidates which will in turn strengthen the Panchayati Raj in the State.
Khan while addressing the gathering highlighted the importance of this Legislative Council Elections from the Panchayati Raj Institution Constituencies. He also highlighted the steps taken by the State Government to streamline and strengthen the Panchayati Raj Act in the State. He further said that through representatives of Panchayats in the Legislative Council the views of Panchayat Raj Institutions will be suitably accommodated in the Panchayat Raj Act. He also appealed to all the Panchs and Sarpanchs to vote in favour of Coalition Candidates so that the Panchayats are ideally represented in the State Legislature.
Abdul Majid Wani, MLA Doda while discussing the problems faced by the hilly constituency of Doda assured that 90 per cent of Sarpanchs and Panchs will vote in favour of Coalition Candidates. He also said that this election will provide an ideal opportunity to workers of both these parties at grass root level to have better understanding of each other amongst themselves. This will ultimately lead to the strengthening of the present Coalition Government in the State. He assured the Panchs and Sarpanchs that election of both these candidates will go a long way in resolving the long pending issues of hilly and backward Constituency of Doda. Khalid Najib Suhrawardhy and Naresh Gupta also spoke on the occasion and appealed the Panches and Sarpanches to vote in favour of Sham Lal Bhagat and Dr. Shehnaz Ganai so that they win the election with thumping majority.
The contesting candidates Sham Lal Bhagat and Dr. Shehnaz Ganai assured the Panches and Sarpanches that they will leave no stone unturned to raise their issues vigorously and effectively in the Legislature. They also pledge that they will be visiting all the rural areas after the election in order to make a better understanding of the problems being faced by the common people.
Later on, the Ministers along with Legislator Mohammad Sharief Niaz, MLA Bhaderwah also addressed a well attended gathering of Panchs and Sarpanchs at Bhaderwah.
Niaz, while addressing the gathering at Bhaderwah highlighted the problems being confronted by the people belonging to Bhaderwah Assembly Constituency. He assured that more than 90 percent the Panchs and Sarpanchs of Bhaderwah Assembly Constituency will cast their vote in favour of the Coalition Candidates. The meeting was also addressed by Shabir Ahmed Khan and Mohd. Ashraf both leaders of Panches and Sarpanches who also assured that Panches and Sarpanches have full faith in the dynamic leadership of Coalition Partners and assured that the Coalition Candidates will come out with flying colours in the forthcoming elections.