Kotranka-J&K, April 01 (Scoop News) – “Personal benefits should not mar public interests”, J&K Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah said and urged PDP to attend the Houses for general public cause and participate in the proceedings.
Addressing a mammoth public gathering here, Omar while reminding the PDP of its responsibilities towards public and the constituencies it represents in the State Legislature, Omar today said that the boycott by PDP Legislators from the proceedings of the Houses for a petty matter of security vehicle to one of its Party worker doesn’t hold any water.
Omar said that many important Bills have been tabled in Legislative Assembly and propriety demands that PDP Legislators take part in the discussions and identify the areas where government attention is required for focusing.
He said that since PDP announced the boycott through media, as such, he is using the public platform for reminding them of their duties and urging to end the boycott. “Otherwise I would like to make this call from the floor of the House”.
The Chief Minister said that the issue of providing a security vehicle to one of PDP workers, who is already provided with security guards and PSOs appropriately, ought not to be stretched too far to mar public cause. “Presently vehicle is not available, when it becomes we will provide it to him”, he added.
On the development scenario, the Chief Minister said that his government has initiated a comprehensive development policy to ensure equitable progress in all areas focusing on faster development of bad pockets. “The economic upliftment of far-flung and hilly backward areas is on the top of our development agenda”, he added saying that the effects of long period of neglect on the development front in these areas could not be made good of in just fifteen months. “However the measures taken by my Government have started showing impact on the ground”.
Omar said that NC-Congress Coalition is determined to catapult the development scenario of rural areas and scores of schemes have already been launched for the purpose. “Our agenda is all round development of all areas without any consideration of region, religion or caste”, he asserted.
The Chief Minister said that it was the National Conference under the stewardship of Dr. Farooq Abdullah which fought for Gujjar community to get them Scheduled Tribe status to ensure their development and progress in all fields of life and it is also NC which stood for the similar status to Pahari speaking people. “My Government is vehemently pursuing this agenda with the Central Government”, he said and assured that the right of Paharis for Scheduled Tribe status will not be at the cost of Gujjars. “We will not allow any disadvantage to Gujjars while striving for the rights of Paharis”. He asked both these communities to be aware of the vested interests who want to wedge them apart on this issue.
Omar reiterated his Government’s commitment for upgrdation in five basic sectors of road communication, power, water supply, health and education and said that from the current year mobile schools for migratory population of Gujjars and Bakerwal will be reopened in a phased manner to enable their children carry on studies smoothly. “You cannot avail the reservation available for trainings, higher studies and government services under Scheduled Tribe status unless your children are properly educated”, he told the Gujjar and Bakerwal communities urging them to impart education to their wards.
On Rehabilitation Policy, the Chief Minister said that this initiative of his Government would pave the way for those youth who want to return back from PoK to their homes as reformed and peaceful citizens and become part of the mainstream. He said his Government is also working for enhancing the travel and trade through LoC and making the system more conducive and easy. He said that the trading has been now extended from two days a week to four days and the quantum of trade has substantially increased. “We are for brotherly relations between India and Pakistan”, he said adding that his Government will also endeavour for it.
The public meeting was also addressed by Vice Chairman, Kissan Board, Rachpaul Singh, NC Provincial President, Rattan Lal Gupta, MLA, Nazir Ahmed Gurezi, Ch. Liakat Ali, Bashir Ahmed Wani, Mirza Rashid and Parvez Ahmed.