Jammu,December 27 (Scoop News)-Maintaining that National Conference (NC) has always stood like a rock for the cause of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, the Minister for Industries and Commerce, Surjit Singh Slathia today castigated opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for exploiting the sentiments of innocent people on regional and religious basis to satiate their petty interests.
Addressing a public gathering organized at Vijaypur, Jammu to mark the joining of various prominent personalities and political workers of the area, in the NC fold, Slathia said PDP is un-nerved with the growing popularity graph of NC among masses due to its pro-people policies and programmes, adding that it was now desperately trying to foment trouble, on one pretext or the other, to sabotage the prevailing peace in the State, which has brought cheer on the faces of turmoil ravaged people. He said due to concerted efforts of the Omar led coalition Government, a discernible improvement has come in the security situation, after over 20 years of unrest and bloodshed in the State.
Slathia said with the return of peace a record number of 1.22 crore tourists including over one crore Vaishno Devi Ji pilgrims, 6.20 lakh Amarnath Ji Yatris, 13.14 lakh tourists to Kashmir Valley and 1.80 lakh tourists to Ladakh, have visited the State and the trade and business have received a new impetus. The overall situation in the State has brought a turnaround in the economic activities and the common people are yearning for permanent place to prevail so that their wounds inflicted due to turmoil are cured.
“This tangible turn around in the situation does not go well with the opposition, so they trying to hoodwink public opinion on frivolous issues “ , Slathia said, adding that the people of the state are wise enough to see their game plan. He said N.C. and the Congress are two secular and democratic parties, with sound Ideological background and their Coordination has proved very beneficial for the State. He said need of the hour is to further strengthen this coalition for over all development of the State and betterment of its people.
On this occasion, 40 young political workers and a prominent social and political worker of the area Ajay Kumar Sharma joined N.C, who were whole heartedly welcomed by the Minister.
They alongwith the Minister were given rousing reception and were garlanded by the people.