National Conference Provincial President Mr Devender Singh Rana today called for collective approach in seeking fulfillment of Jammu’s distinct urges and developmental aspirations, saying these can neither be neglected nor relegated.
“Jammu has all along played crucial role of unifier and shown immense political sagacity in maintaining high traditions of amity and brotherhood, even during most testing times, the Provincial President said while paying homage to deceased Block President Mr Ganga Singh on his death anniversary here this afternoon.
Former minister Mr Surjeet Singh Slathia and former legislators Mr Ashwani Kumar and Dr Kamal Arora were among the prominent leaders who paid homage to the departed leader.
Mr Rana said that unemployment among educated youth, as also skilled and unskilled work force, accumulated and took alarming proportions because of apathy of those at the helm, he said.
The Provincial President said Jammu is craving for attention and wishes the developmental tempo to be accelerated with focus on the completion of ongoing works in a time bound manner. The delays have not only resulted in cost escalation but also denied the people of timely benefits of schemes, he said, adding that a course correction is needed for putting the province on right developmental track.
Mr Rana said time had come when Jammu should rise above party politics and assert its legitimate rights with thrust on fair distribution of funds and share in jobs. He said Jammu and Kashmir will prosper and progress only when all its regions and sub regions get due share and equal opportunities in all the fields. The justice should not only be done but it should also appear to have been dispensed judiciously, he maintained.
He referred to peculiar problems of various areas in the region, especially hilly, remote and border belts, saying multi-pronged strategy is required to be adopted to ensure equitable development. A sort of regional councils like mechanism will perhaps address to the area wise issues effectively, he added.
Speaking on the occasion Mr Surjeet Singh Slathia highlighted the strategic significance of Jammu as a most thronged pilgrim distinction of the country and gateway to scenic Kashmir and mainland Ladakh, saying its holistic development should be a national priority.
“Jammu has to be an epicentre of regional development and prosperity, with youth having access to jobs”, Mr Slathia said and also called for fast tracking recruitment process for ending despondency among youth.
Mr Rana, as also other leaders including Mr Slathia, former legislators Dr Kamal Arora, Mr Ashwani Kumar and Mr Abdul Rahim Daad, paid tributes to Mr Ganga Singh and enumerated his contribution towards public welfare. They described the late leader as a dedicated political worker, having qualities of head and heart.
Prominent among those present on the occasion were Mr Surinder Singh Bunty and Mr Abdul Wahid Kasana.