Union government totally Kashmir centric: Manhas

Jammu, February 04 (Scoop News) –   Grant of an additional sum of rupees 356 crores exclusively for the Dal Lake of Kashmir by the Union government has once again proved that be it state’s coalition or Congress-led UPA, both are Kashmir-centric and have no place for Jammu in their scheme of things. This was alleged by BJP State President Shamsher Singh Manhas while expressing party’s concern over repeated discrimination meted out to Jammu in allocation of funds for developmental activities. He also alleged misappropriation of funds obtained from Centre in the name of lakes.

   Shamsher Singh Manhas said that  successive governments in the state, which have been run either by NC or NC-Congress coalition or PDP-Congress coalition, always gave preferential treatment to Kashmir in all the spheres and at all levels. The pro-Kashmir approach of NC and PDP can be understood because for both these two parties, Kashmir is their core constituency but the total surrender of the Congress before them is most unfortunate. The people of Jammu displayed  faith in Congress while returning maximum Congress candidates to the state assembly in 2008 elections with the hope that their grievances will be taken note of and  discrimination with Jammu will end. But high hopes of the people were dashed to the ground when the Congress formed unholy alliance with the Kashmir-centric political party, the National Conference, for sake of power and did not utter a single word to seek justice for Jammu.The silence on part of the Congress by not demanding funds for Mansar and Surinsar lakes is not a healthy development for Jammu and Jammuites.He said the people are watching the role of Congress minutely and will teach it a lesson as and when an election is held.  

   Manhas said that the state government had in the past also received funds amounting to more than Rs 2200 crores from the Centre in the name of development of Dal and Wullar lakes and added that the BJP Scams Committee with Dr. Jitendra Singh as its Co-ordinator has been working to gather details about alleged misappropriation of these funds.