Rajouri, August 4 (KNS): National Conference President Dr Farooq Abdullah on Tuesday cautioned PDP-BJP combine against inciting regional passions, saying Jammu and Kashmir has to grow and flourish as a single entity and any attempt to trample this peculiar character would be fought tooth and nail.
“By engineering regional divide, the coalition cannot divert the attention of people from governance failure”, Dr Abdullah said while addressing several reception gatherings enroute Rajouri.
Accompanied by Provincial President Devender Singh Rana, he interacted with the people at Sunderbani, Lambedi, Nowshehra, Narian, Chingus, Moradpur and Badoon during the first leg of his four-day tour to Rajouri and Poonch Districts. The euphoric crowds cheered the National Conference President and delayed his stopovers to listen to him. Some elderly people felt nostalgic and shared reminisce of good old days and reminding him of the finer details of previous visits. He identified himself with the crowds by asking about the people and the places.
Dr Abdullah also participated in the Urs of Sain Lal Din Mundrian Walla at Kotranka.
The National Conference President said the governance deficit and backing out from the hollow promises made by the PDP and BJP before elections and after forming the government are manifesting in discontent and unrest in Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh with people suffering on all fronts. In this context, he referred to the ongoing agitation on AIIMS in Jammu and said that instead of seeking the resolution of the problem by prevailing on the Centre to announce another full-fledged facility, the State Government in general and the BJP in particular has adopted a confrontational attitude.
“This is not solution of the problem. The BJP and the Coalition Government must understand that in a similarly placed situation on the issue of Central University, the National Conference led Government had ensured that both the regions get two separate varsities”, he said, adding that since the State Government has failed in doing so, there is need for an All Party Delegation to go to Delhi, educate the parliamentarians and urge the Centre to take a call on immediate basis.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel
Dr Abdullah expressed concern over the problems faced to people in the wake of continued Bandh and hoped the government will realise its responsibility and take appropriate measures to diffuse the situation. He said the public anger cannot be doused by diversionary tactics or indulging in rhetoric. “It cannot be averted by bringing the people of different regions and communities on eye-ball to eyeball situation, as is being attempted”, he said adding that divisive politics is not in the interest of the State or the nation.
The NC President reiterated his party’s support to a separate AIIMS for Jammu, saying health for all is a basic right of all and therefore there is immense need for creating adequate infrastructural facilities in this key sector in all the three regions. He hoped the coalition government will not vitiate further the atmosphere on this issue and endeavour for obtaining one more AIIMS as per urges and aspirations of Jammuties.
Later, interacting with people at Rajouri called for pro-active role by youth in shaping the destiny of Jammu and Kashmir. He said the young people were hope of any nation and channelizing their energies properly is need of the time.
“National Conference has always carved out a big role for young and energetic people and maintaining our track record we won’t allow vested interests to make them fodder of their petty politics”, he said and urged the youngsters to come forward, play their useful role in forging the bonds of unity and amity between various segments of society and steering out the state from the present morass.
The National Conference President also addressed a religious gathering.
During the day several delegations of people called on the National Conference President and apprised him of the prevailing political situation and problems confronted to the people. Senior National Conference functionaries of the district also met Dr Abdullah and discussed organisations matters. They included State Secretary Th Rachpal Singh and Provincial Youth National Conference President Jammu Ajaz Jan.