Udhampur, July 20: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) J&K spokesperson, Ranbir Singh Pathania on Saturday said the people of Jammu & Kashmir are committed to fighting terrorism.
He condemned recent terrorist incidents, specifically the attack in Dudu-Basantgarh, calling it an attempt to instill fear among the residents.
“Jammu and Kashmir has faced such threats before and has always overcome them,” Pathania said in a statement. He said these acts are the result of “diversionary and dialectical tactics” by a “recalcitrant neighbour”. “The current situation is a battle of nerves and wits,” he said, adding that the BJP is committed to the “zero tolerance against terrorism” policy.
In a separate appeal, Pathania urged the district administration to cease the practice of dumping Udhampur city’s solid waste in Village Mand, Tehsil Udhampur. This plea follows a recent district review meeting chaired by Dr Jitendra Singh, Minister of State for the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), where the administration had agreed in principle to discontinue this practice.
The BJP spokesperson criticised the current waste disposal practices, which he said pose significant public health and hygiene risks. The indiscriminate dumping of waste has caused considerable distress to various institutions and localities, including Manthal, Shurta, Jhajjar Kotli, Mahamaya Mandir, Government Middle School Baswani, Chanas, Government Primary School Chanas, Dabbar, Salora, Baswani, Amrit Saral, Chakhar, Goal, Danga, Lehnu, Government Middle School Lehnu, Famous Kali Mandir, Shiv Mandir Tikri, HSS Tikri, and approximately 15 other schools.
He questioned the rationale behind disposing of large volumes of waste near the national highway, a crucial route for the Amarnath Yatra, tourists, and daily commuters between Jammu and Srinagar.
Pathania highlighted the negative impact of this unsustainable waste disposal method on the Amarnath Yatra, Narayana Hospital, and various public institutions.
“Every citizen has a fundamental right to a clean and disease-free environment,” he said. He called for strict enforcement of regulations against the bovine and drug mafia operating in the district.
Pathania expressed dissatisfaction with a recent incident where local youths who intercepted a vehicle transporting bovines were charged at the Latti police station.
The BJP spokesperson stressed the need for enhanced operations and surveillance, coupled with improved human intelligence, to instill a sense of security among residents, particularly in the higher reaches of Udhampur, such as Dudu, Latti and Basantgarh.
