Rahul’s border tour symbolic, ours focused on ground relief: LoP Sharma

Kupwara, May 24: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) senior leader and Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, Sunil Sharma on Saturday said while Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s visit to border areas was symbolic, the BJP delegation’s tour aims to deliver tangible, on-ground relief to those affected.
Speaking to Kashmir News Service (KNS) correspondent , during his visit to Tangdhar in Kupwara district, Sharma said, “It’s good that Rahul Gandhi visited the border areas. He is a big leader and the Leader of Opposition in Parliament. He may not be used to ground-level outreach, but it’s a good thing he still came—even if the visit feels cosmetic. Our priority, however, is to work directly on the ground, listen to the people’s problems, and address them through government action.”
Sharma highlighted the severe damage caused by the recent cross-border shelling from Pakistan, which destroyed several houses, shops, cattle sheds and other property in border villages. He informed that the central government has taken the issue seriously, having already sent two assessment teams to the region — with the BJP delegation arriving today to review the situation firsthand.
During his interaction with local residents, the BJP leader said people have demanded the urgent construction of individual and community bunkers for safety during such incidents. “We have already raised this with the Union Home Minister, and the district administration has been asked to begin work immediately. Very soon, these bunkers will be made available to the people,” he said.
He further announced that government jobs under the Special Recruitment Ordinance (SRO) would be provided to the next of kin of those killed in the recent incidents. “The Lieutenant Governor has already approved this for Poonch, and Kupwara will follow next,” he added.