Gurez, July 24: Chairman Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP) Ghulam Nabi Azad on Monday sought immediate announcement of elections in Jammu and Kashmir saying people have been suffering for want of elected representatives in their respective areas.
Addressing a public gathering in this border tehsil on the first day of his three-day tour, Azad said elections are the only panacea for all “ills” of Jammu and Kashmir as people prefer to get redressal of their woes from their elected representatives who are well equipped with the local aspirations at village or mohalla levels.
“People are suffering as development in holistic terms has not percolated down to village level in distant border areas where the reach of administration has been minimal over the years. Now, residents yearn for elected representatives for early redressal of basic issues confronting them,” he said.
Hailing the role of people of Gurez during the peak militancy period of 33 years, the DPAP chairman said the people in border areas are working in tandem with security forces to maintain peace and tranquillity. “Apart from security forces, people of Gurez deserve appreciation for making the border area a peaceful zone where militancy never had any foothold,” he affirmed.
Recalling his tenure of two-and-half years as chief minister, Azad said during this period, he never discriminated on religious, caste or regional basis but strived hard to develop Jammu and Kashmir as a model state.
The former chief minister sought support from the people of Gurez on electing DPAP representatives to represent them in developing the border area in all respects. “DPAP if elected to govern Jammu and Kashmir would usher in a new form of enormous development wherein the only focus would be overall employment, infrastructure (roads), education (colleges) and health (hospital) upgradation,” he asserted.
Assuring people that once elected DPAP would guarantee full rights over their land, jobs and resources, Azad stressed that he would ensure implementation of the party’s agenda of development in every nook and corner of Jammu and Kashmir.
He emphasised on unity and Azad underscored the need for electing people with clean images and track records as different political parties hardly match their words when they come to power. “The people of Jammu and Kashmir have been suffering for decades now due to militancy and misgovernance and the need of the hour is total development which would be possible only once clean and unbiased representatives are elected,” he said.
