Jammu, Jan 03: Ajay Kumar Sadhotra, Additional General Secretary NC and former minister, on Wednesday said the development works started during the National Conference governance in the erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir have been brought to a standstill under the incumbent government.
“The overall developmental scenario existing today is hopeless and highly deplorable,” Sadhotra said during a meeting with National Conference (NC) functionaries in District Udhampur Urban at Sher-e-Kashmir Bhavan, Jammu. The meeting, led by NC District President Udhampur Urban Sunil Verma, commenced with discussions on the challenges faced by the people in the region, highlighting the authorities’ “failure” to address these issues despite repeated approaches.
He said there is a grim picture of the overall development scenario, noting that progress on crucial projects, such as the Devika project, is slow and far from completion.
The senior NC leader criticized the Union Territory administration’s claims of transforming the industrial sector and boosting the economy through its industrial policy. He pointed out that numerous industries in J&K, especially in Udhampur, are on the brink of closure. Additionally, road projects, like the one from Ramnagar to Basantgarh, remain stalled with no clear timeline for completion.
Ajay highlighted the administration’s apparent disregard for public health, noting that health centres in rural and far-flung areas operate without doctors. He also criticized the poor conditions of ration supplies and electricity, attributing them to what he called the worst form of governance by the incumbent government.
Rattan Lal Gupta, Provincial President of Jammu and Kashmir National Conference echoed these concerns and accused the government of depriving the people of J&K of their fundamental rights by delaying ULB, Panchayat, and Assembly polls. Gupta criticized JP Nadda, the BJP National President, for focusing on Lok Sabha polls during his upcoming visit to Jammu on January 7 while ignoring the overdue local and assembly elections.
Gupta accused the BJP of employing unconstitutional methods to postpone the polls, alleging that the party fears a significant defeat due to its “misgovernance” in J&K. He said the BJP is “unfit” to contest Assembly polls and accused them of undermining democracy by delaying elections.
Abdul Gani Malik, Zonal President Udhampur Reasi and former minister of JKNC expressed the public’s eagerness for the announcement of assembly elections and pledged overwhelming support for National Conference candidates. He called on the people to strengthen the hands of Dr Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah, asserting that only the NC can effectively address their issues.
