NAGROTA: Expressing anguish over exploiting Jammu people for furthering self-centric political agenda and in the process hugely compromising with the interests of the region, National Conference Provincial President Devender Singh Rana today said that the people have sent a terse and resounding message in the recently held District Development Council elections that they know how to teach a lesson to those who even try to test their sense of understanding.”The self proclaimed Messiahs of the Jammu interest have now known well that they can fool the people once but not always”, Rana said while addressing several roadside meetings with the residents of Dansal, Jindrah and Krishanpur-Kathar in Nagrota Assembly Constituency, first time after the announcement of results.Shameem Begum, who was felicitated over registering an impressive victory in the just concluded DDC elections from Dansal, also addressed the public meetings.Prominent among those present at the felicitation function were Ch. Rehmat Ali BDC Chairman Nagrota and Reena Thappa, BDC Chairperson Dansal.The Provincial President called for unity among like- minded political parties and leaders to fight divisive and exploitative politics, which he termed dangerous for democracy.”Also, a sustained effort is required to satiate the urges and aspirations of the people of all the regions and sub-regions and to uphold the unity and dignity of the state of Jammu and Kashmir”, Rana said, adding that the National Conference stands for each region getting equal opportunities of progress and equitable development. Therefore empowering the regions will go a long way in strengthening the bonds of unity and amity between people, he said while adding this objective is not only to be achieved but a feeling is needed to be infused among the people that they are not being discriminated on the basis of region. Each region and sub-region has distinct aspirations and these can be fulfilled by ensuring devolution of power at grass-roots level, which has been the political philosophy of the National Conference, he added.He said the falsehood unleashed brazenly during these elections fell flat with the electors stamping out those testing their political understanding and sagacity. Mistaking people as politically naive has cost the perpetrators of exploitation most, by not only losing credibility but face also in what they considered as core constituency, he said, adding that the lesson taught to them will make them think twice while facing the electorate.Rana lamented that the interests of the Jammu region are being compromised unabatedly and this is unacceptable to the people, who can’t take such an indignity any more. While the region is being denied its due share in development and infrastructural edifice, the youth are discriminated against in respect of jobs. It is just extension of denial which has been unleashed at the behest of those claiming to be the custodians of the Jammu aspirations. They have hugely betrayed the people in recent years. The so-called protectors have turned perpetrators, who were inflicting scars on public psyche, he said.The Provincial President described the recent elections as a beginning of a new era with people realizing their political might. By discarding the exploiters even from their home turfs is a message that the era of exploitation is over. He said the people want their representatives to deliver rather than indulging in rhetoric. They want roads, better education and jobs for their children, industrialization, and a conducive atmosphere for growth of their businesses, he said, adding that they can’t be pushed backwards anymore.Rana complimented the people for meeting the challenges with immense degree of resilience and demonstrating their unflinching faith in unity and tranquility. This is the real strength of Jammu’s glorious traditions.The Provincial President said that appreciating the sensitivities of different regions and sub-regions, the National Conference has always strived for ensuring equal opportunities of progress and development to all, irrespective of region or religion. This is because secularism has been the bedrock of the party which has survived most turbulent times during the past seven decades, he added.He said the National Conference is committed to upholding distinct urges and aspirations of the people and ensuring development if the region optimally. He expressed gratitude to the people in reposing their faith in the party in recent elections.Among others present included Sarpanch Dansal Soma Devi, Sarpanch Kathar Lower Kanta Devi, Sarpanch Tarah Saraj Din, Sarpanch Kanyala Amjad Beg, Sarpanch Kanna Chadgal Lower, Din Mohd, Sarpanch Nagola, Gulazra Bibi, Sarpanch Badsoo Yasmeen Akthar, Sarpanch Pargalta, Mohanlal,Sarpanch Onkar Singh, Ex Sarpanch Balwan Singh, Mohd Sadiq, Ch Noor Ali, Angrez Singh, Khurshaid Ali, Haji Rafiq, Mohan Lal, , Kishori Lal, Pritam Singh, Master Ranjit Singh, Ashok Singh (Gulail), Kuldeep Kumar (Sukha), Shakeel Beg, Ajeet Thappa (Jeeta),Rampal Sharma, Puran Singh, Munshi Ram, Rattan Singh, Shfail, Sanjay Kumar, Ab Gafoor, Raj Singh, Kartar Singh, Prof Hans Raj, Narinder Singh (Maddi), Jagdev Singh, Ashwani Sharma, Jamat Ali, Sandeep Gupta, Kuldeep Kumar, Abdul Majid (Bittu Teli) and other Panches.
