Kishtwar, January 11 (KNO) : Holding National Conference, Congress and BJP responsible for backwardness of nomads in Chenab Valley, Member Legislative Council Firdous Tak on Friday said that the Gujjar and Bakarwals were used just as mere vote bank by their own elected representatives.
"While the people from the community have held top government positions from other parts of state, the Nomads of Chenab Valley were pushed into poverty , backwardness and economic helplessness with a conspiracy by their representatives to keep their vote bank intact", Tak said as per a statement issued to KNO.
Tak was addressing a party meeting at Gujjar Basti in Nagseni Blaock of Kishtwar district. A large number of national conference workers joined on the occasion and pledged to strengthen the hands of Ms Mehbooba Mufti. On this occassion, the Zonal President PDP Kishtwar Arshad Giri, District President Youth Wasil Doowal, HaJi Mohd Iqbal, Ab Rasheed Butt, Gh Mohd Sheikh, Firdous Tapal, Arshad Hussain, Sajjad Hussain, Shahid Hussain Gilkar, Tariq Hussain, Imran Ahmad , Elam Din, Ab Kasim beside other senior party leaders were present.
Tak said that the people of Chenab Valley remain deprived of even the basic amenities despite the region contributing strongly to the state economy. He said that people had dreamed of prosperity and voted NC and Congress out of power only to face another betrayal this time at the hand of BJP.
"Large number of Gujjar population had voted for BJP in last elections but the entire community was backstabbed by the party, he said.
He said that PDP on the other hand has stood for all weaker sections of the society and fought for their rights. "It was Mufti Muhammad Sayeed who created a separate Tribal Affairs Ministry and gave representation to the community', he said adding that the than Chief Minister Ms. Mehbooba Mufti stood firm in the Asifa case making sure that the family gets justice.
He said that the only way to get Chenab Valley out of backwardness and under development was to grant it separate divisional status. the reorganisation of administrative setup was necessary to address development deficit of far off areas of the state.
“The PDP transformed the political ideologies and forced even the opponents like NC and Congress to adopt the policy of peace and reconciliation”, he said adding, “Today all the political parties speak about dialogue and reconciliation besides friendly relations with the neighbours. This is the achievement of PDP”, he said.(KNO)