Rattan Lal slams J&K Admin for neglecting religious tourism

SAMBA, March 5: J&K National Conference today criticized the government for neglecting religious tourism which has potential to boost the economy of Jammu and Kashmir.

Addressing a workers meeting at Villaga Kalima (Utter Behni), Block Purmandal, district Samba, Rattan Lal Gupta, Provincial President JKNC said that the ‘religious tourism’ has been facing discrimination from the present dispensation which had claimed equal treatment to all the regions of Jammu and Kashmir. He said that Utter Behni and Purmandal Shrines, which is also called as ‘Chhota Kaashi’ has the potential of being a major attraction of pilgrimage tourism in Jammu region but unfortunately it has neglected by the present government.

The senior NC leader said that claims made by the BJP leadership about colossal development in J&K are contrary to the ground reality because people are confronting the dearth of infrastructure and facilities under the incumbent dispensation in J&K, which is an offshoot of the BJP government at the Centre. He said that our heritage religious sites are in shambles but the government sitting like a mute spectator. He said that locals in Block Purmandal are severely affected by the record breaking unemployment rate but the incumbent government is not doing much in containing joblessness thus adding misery to the lives of people.

Rattan Lal asked the government to bring Purmandal, Utterbehni and Chichi Mata Temple on tourism circuit so that unemployment, which is top in J&K as compare with others states of the country, could be tackled by creating new avenues for the youth of the state. He said there is dire need to create a special route for SRTC buses on the aforesaid religious sites, besides making suitable accommodation for the visiting pilgrims.

The Provincial President raised serious concern over machinations of polarizing elements in dividing the society on regional and religious lines, saying sowing seeds of mistrust and hate is against the secular ethos of Jammu and Kashmir. He exhorted party workers to shoulder their responsibilities for upholding secular, pluralistic, democratic and multi-linguistic ethos of Jammu and Kashmir.

Today’s meeting was organized under the chairmanship of Prem Singh Block President JKNC. NC leaders Rattan Lal Gupta, Pardeep Bali Provincial Secretary; Abdul Ghani Teli Provincial President OBC Cell; Vijay Lochan Provincial President SC Cell, Sheikh Bashir Ahmed Provincial Secretary JKNC, Mohinder Singh Vice President Central Zone and Ashok Kumar Attri Vice President Central Zone accompanied the Provincial President JKNC.

Sudagar Chand Gupta District President Samba apprised the senior functionaries of the Party about the hardships being faced by the people of the area due to poor road connectivity, scarcity of power and water supply, poor health services, etc.

The Provincial President assured for taking up the aforesaid issues with the authorities concerned for early redressal.

Sheikh Bashir Ahmed, Provincial Secretary JKNC, stated that it is an irony of the people of J&K that while the Government continues making tall claims regarding success of ‘Har Ghar Jal’ programme ensuring tap water to every household, the ground situation in the Kandi belt of Samba reveals that majority of people are facing the worst water crisis. He asked the government to come out with a Master Plan for entire Kandi belt of Samba to address the water crisis once for all.

Vijay Lochan, Provincial President SC Cell accused the J&K Administration of adopting a discriminatory approach towards the weaker section of society with no employment policy or any kind of development project.

Abdul Ghani Teli, Provincial President OBC Cell said that ground level workers can play the active role in changing the course of impending polls therefore it is significant that NC cadre should mobilize the grass-root level workers to ensure resounding victory in the upcoming polls. He said that only the National Conference can address people’s problems for which the party cadre will have to further strengthen the base of the party at grass roots level.

Among others who were present include Mahinder Singh, Ashok Attri, Master Noor Hussain, Swarn Singh, Sat Pal, Joginder, Parshotam, Rashal Singh, Balbir Singh, Ajay Sharma, Balbir Singh, youth leader Rafiq, Block President Yash Pal.