J&K deserves special budget package more than any other state: Rattan Lal Gupta

• Sadhotra slams BJP's "Bogus Development" Narrative

SAMBA: Ajay Kr. Sadhotra Additional General Secretary and former minister JKNC said that leave aside the bogus ‘development’ narrative created by the BJP leadership, the proxy Government of J&K UT under its realms has even failed to provide the very basic amenities including water and electricity to the people of Union Territory. He was addressing a public meeting here at Smailpur. The meeting was organized by Rameshwar Chalotra, who joined National Conference in the meeting. 

On the occasion, Rattan Lal Gupta, Provincial President JKNC, Ayub Malik Provincial Secretary, Surjit Singh Manhas, Provincial Joint Secretary, Satwant Dogra Provincial President Jammu Women wing, Abdul Gani Tel Chairman OBC Cell, Harmesh Singh Slathia, Ch. Shoket Ali and DDC Member Bari Brahmana Suriya Begum were also present.

 At the beginning of the meeting, Rameshwar Chalotra apprised the senior NC functionaries about the hardships being faced by people of Kandi belt including acute shortage of power and water supply, lack of medical facilities, shortage of manpower in several government departments, etc. The former Minister Sadhotra said that the entire Kandi belt is facing the indifference of the government with the masses left with no other option but to wait for polls to teach a lesson to failed leadership of the Saffron party, which is totally unconcerned towards public issues. 

Sadhotra also highlighted the dismal condition of industries in the Union Territory alleging that except making castles in air, the government has nothing in offing for the industries and industrialists of the region. He demanded a proportionate financial support and change in policy to rejuvenate the sick industry in the UT as this could change the development profile of J&K in real terms. He said that the people at helm should take lessons from the working of previous NC governments which had created many industrial hubs in the erstwhile state of J&K and accomplished a lot to make the industry vibrant and profit earning.  

The Provincial President Rattan Lal Gupta said that the Central Government has neglected J&K in the recently announced Union Budget. He demanded special budget package for J&K claiming that the region deserves this bounty more than any other state in the country. He said that the Union Government should revisit its decision with regard to providing special package to Bihar and Andhra Pradesh states because it is J&K UT which currently needs such a bounty from the government side to rebuild its infrastructure which has been perished during the last over three decades of terrorism. 

Rattan Lal Gupta also asked party workers to gearup for ensuing Assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir. He also urged the people to support NC in the ensuing Assembly polls in J&K. He said only NC can guarantee protection of the land and job rights to the people and therefore it is imperative to strengthen the hands of NC leadership for bailing out the region from the current morass created by  poor governance of directionless BJP leaders.

Ayub Malik Provincial Secretary Jammu and Surjeet Singh Manhas Joint Secretary Jammu Province asked people to strengthen hands of Dr Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah to ensure welfare of the people of the region claiming that it is only NC which fully understands the issues and problems of the people and the probable remedies through which the same could be addressed proactively.

Among those who were present include:- Ch. Hameed, Shoket Choudhary, Shehnaz Sarpanch, Ashwani Charak Block President Jammu East, Shabir District Vice President Jammu Urban, Ashanand Joint Secretary Jammu Urban, S. Sandeep Singh Zonal President YNC,Parbhat Kapri, Sahil Chib, Randhir Singh, Som Raj and others.