Jammu, November 29 (Scoop News) – A joint meeting of Coalition Partners in support of two Coalition Candidates was held at R.S.Pura which was addressed by Tara Chand, Deputy Chief Minister, R.S. Chib, Minister for Medical Education, Technical Education, YSS, S.S. Salathia, Minister for Industries & Commerce. Among others who addressed the gathering included Rattan Lal Gupta, Provincial President, National Conference, Gulchain Singh Charak, Ex-Minister and Sr. Congress Leader, Smt. Suman Bhagat, Ex-Minister, Gharu Ram, Ram Paul- Ex-Ministers, Smt. Bimla Luthra, MLA, S.R. Sudhir, Sr. Congress Leader, Thakur Kashmira Singh, Ex-MLC, T.S. Tony, District President, National Conference, Ramesh Mottan, Kamal Arora-both Sr. Leaders of N.C, Karan Bhagat and Master Shashi Sharma-Congress Leaders. Both the contesting candidates of Coalition Partners Sham Lal Bhagat and Dr. Shehnaz Ganai also addressed the gathering. The Sarpanches and Panches belonging to both National Conference and Indian National Congress attended the meeting in a large number alongwith block Presidents of Congress and National Conference.
Tara Chand, Deputy Chief Minister while addressing a largely attended meeting of Sarpanches and Panches of National Conference and Indian National Congress at R.S.Pura said that the Coalition Government during its four years tenure is responsible for bringing peace and development in the State of J&K. He further said that victory of Sham Lal Bhagat and Dr. Shehnaz Ganai will enable the Sarpanches and Panches of Jammu Province to highlight their problems in the State Legislature by which the Panchayati Raj Institutions will be strengthened and the power will flow to the door steps of the common man. He also appealed to the Sarpanches and Panches of all the three Assembly Constituencies i.e. R.S.Pura, Bishnah and Suchetgarh to vote for both the candidates of Congress and National Conference in the forthcoming elections to the four seats of Legislative Council.
R.S. Chib, Minister for Medical Education, Tech. Edu. YSS while addressing the gathering said that it is only the Coalition Government headed by the young and dynamic Chief Minister, Jb. Omar Abdullah and having full blessings of Smt. Sonia Gandhi, President, All India Congress Committee and Chairperson, UPA which can ensure continuation of the process of development in the State. He further said that goes to the credit of this Government that Panchayat elections were conducted in a smooth manner in which more than 80 % of the electorates of this State participated. He further added that the Panchayats will have their voice in the Legislation through their representatives in the J&K Legislative Council by electing Sham Lal Bhagat and Dr. Shehnaz Ganai. Chib assured the Sarpanches and Panches that all of their important provisions of 73rd Amendment of Constitution of India will be incorporated in the Panchayati Raj Act of J&K State. He also reminded the gathering of the foresightedness of great leader and visionary Late Rajiv Gandhi who took bold steps to strengthen and streamline Panchayati Raj Institutions at national level. He also said that providing of reasonable honorarium to Sarpanches and Panches is under the active consideration of the Government. He appealed to them that they should vote for candidates of Coalition Partners in the ensuing MLC elections. He also clarified that each voter has to cast two votes and as such requested them that they should cast the votes in favour of candidates belonging to National Conference and Congress Party.
S.S. Slathia, Hon’ble Minister for I&C while addressing Panches and Sarpanches explained to them the importance of this election in order to bring peace, stability and development in the State so that all sections of the society especially those living in rural areas are benefited through Panchayati Raj System. Slathia further said that by electing Congress and National Conference Candidates in the forthcoming elections the Coalition Government will be strengthened and peace and development will get enhanced. Slathia further said that PDP and BJP are trying to mislead the people by hollow slogans and asked the Sarpanches and Panches not to get mislead by their ill devised machinations.
Gulchain Singh Charak, Ex-Minister and Sr. Congress Leader while addressing the gathering appealed to all Panches and Sarpanches belonging to Congress and National Conference to vote in favour of Coalition Candidates in order to strengthen this Government. He further said that vote for Congress and National Conference will be vote for integrity of the state and secular fabric of our State will be strengthened. .
Rattan Lal Gupta, Provincial President, National Conference described this election as a fight between secular and communal forces. He further said that all the Panches and Sarpanches shall support coalition candidates in order to defeat the divisive forces. Sham Lal Bhagat and Dr. Shahnaz Ganai also addressed the gathering and assured all the Sarpanches and Panches that if elected they will continue to raise the issues of Panchs and Sarpanchs in the Legislative Council and will not leave any stone unturned to solve their problems.
The meeting was also addressed by Smt. Suman Bhagat, Ex-Minister, Gharu Ram, Rampal, both Ex-Ministers, S.R. Sudhir, T.S. Tony, Smt. Bimla Luthra, MLA, Karan Bhagat, Th. Kashmira Singh, S. Sobha Singh, Ganesh Dutt, Jugal Mahajan, Gurjit Singh Sassan, Ch. Mohan Lal.
Later, Chib addressed Panches and Sarpanches at chakmalal, Khour block and appealed them to vote in favour of Coalition Candidates.