Jammu, Sep 21: Apni Party Provincial President Jammu, and former minister S. Manjit Singh on Thursday directed the party leaders heading different wings to prepare for the Urban Local Body and Municipal elections in Jammu and Kashmir.
According to a party statement, a meeting was organized here at the Gandhi Nagar Office in Jammu under the leadership of the Provincial President, Jammu, S. Manjit Singh to review the working and preparedness of the party cadre. The meeting was attended by Provincial office bearers, District Presidents, frontal heads and active members.
While taking a review of the party’s working and holding threadbare discussion over the organisational issues, the Former Minister expressed his satisfaction that the membership drives as well as door to door campaign has gained momentum because hundreds of people have joined Apni Party extending their support to the policy and developmental agenda of the party.
In his address, he appreciated the party leaders for their work and directed them to highlight the concerns of the people in Jammu plains in particular in Jammu, Samba and Kathua districts. He expressed his concern over the continuous collection of illegal toll tax at Sarore Toll Plaza in Samba and the worsening condition of the Jammu-Srinagar highway that has forced commuters to face hardships.
He reminded that the NHAI had sent a team to assess the ground situation in Samba and Kathua districts so that a decision was taken regarding the Sarore Toll Plaza. “That team came and returned back. However, no report has been made public even after strong resentment against the authorities in Jammu, Samba and Kathua districts,” he said.
He said that the development in rural areas including the border belt has come to stand still whereas Udhampur district is among the worst hit where development and road infrastructure is missing.
Singh criticised the Smart City Project for its failure and raised the issues of traders, businessmen, hoteliers, etc. He raised a question mark on the active role and influence of non-locals in government departments in getting mining contracts and liquor trade.
The Apni Party leader said the people believe that the Assembly Elections will provide them with an opportunity to elect a democratic government that would represent them and do work as per their aspirations.
He said that the lives of the people have been affected adversely in the absence of an elected Govt. Hence, the democratic system must be restored, he added.
At the end of the meeting, he asked the party leaders to hold meetings with the people and interact with the people to educate them about the policy and programmes of the Apni Party aimed at empowering the people of Jammu and Kashmir and to end the discrimination with both the regions.