Chenab region neglected since 2014, says Farooq

Srinagar, Aug 15: Jammu and Kashmir National Conference President Dr Farooq Abdullah on Thursday expressed deep concern over the alarming increase in road accidents in the Chenab region, saying the government makes huge claims of development.
He said the roads in the Chenab region have become a major hotspot for accidents, resulting in numerous fatalities each year.
“These accidents cast a shadow over the otherwise beautiful region, causing anxiety among the residents who have to travel on these perilous roads. The picturesque Chenab Valley, comprising the districts of Ramban, Kishtwar, and Doda, has unfortunately gained notoriety for frequent road accidents,” he said, adding that over the past few years, hundreds of lives have been lost, leaving families devastated.
Addressing a meeting with party members from Ramban district at Patnitop, the NC Chief claimed that despite the government’s promises of development, no concrete measures have been taken to address this pressing issue during the last decade, particularly when the BJP was in power.
The meeting, convened by District President Ramban Sajjad Shaheen, was attended by several party functionaries including Provincial President Jammu Rattan Lal Gupta, YNC Provincial President Jammu Ajaz Jan, and others, the party said in a statement.
Dr Abdullah criticised the “successive governments since 2014” for “neglecting” the entire Chenab region and “undoing the progress” achieved under the previous NC-led administrations.
He questioned the BJP’s priorities, accusing them of overlooking equitable development and communal harmony in the region. “Despite having a local MP as a union minister after 2014, the Chenab region continues to lag behind, prompting people to demand answers from the BJP regarding this persistent issue,” he said.