Asks people to join crusade for turning Nagrota into a model, developed assembly constituency; vows to expose politically-backed mining mafia
Sounding the poll bugle for by-election in Nagrota assembly segment, All Jammu and Kashmir Panchayat Conference (AJKPC) president Anil Sharma on Sunday took a strong dig at the political parties for their attempt to implement SRO-43 in electoral politics by favouring the kin of MLAs and MPs.
While launching his campaign for bringing public reforms in Nagrota assembly constituency, Sharma, who also served as Sarpanch of Panchayat Jindrah, addressed a large and enthusiastic gathering of workers and local residents in Dansal town, urging them to carefully consider their electoral future before casting their votes in the upcoming by-election for the Nagrota assembly constituency.
“Over 3,600 SRO-43 cases remain pending in Nagrota, yet political leaders maintained a criminal silence on the clearance of these cases. These long-pending issues, which should have been resolved after the abrogation of Article 370, continue to be ignored. However, political parties and their leaders are making all-out efforts to implement political SRO-43 in the constituency to benefit the kin of MLAs and MPs, even posthumously,” he regretted.
Sharma pointed out that the families of daily wagers from the Power Development Department (PDD) who lost their lives due to electrocution while performing their duties, as well as the families of casual drivers of the J&K Road Transport Corporation who were killed in road accidents while driving, are still waiting for justice. “Their files are gathering dust, while political leaders, who should be working for the people, remain silent.
These very leaders, however, have no hesitation in acknowledging political SRO-43 to benefit the families of their political cronies,” Sharma remarked.
He also expressed deep concern over the trend of sidelining true grassroots leaders and workers in favour of individuals with political influence, money, and connections.
“People who have dedicated their lives to the welfare of the masses are being ignored by political parties in favour of those who have political fathers and can wield power or money. This practice needs to end immediately”, he said.Sharma added, “Only those who have served the people with dedication and commitment at grassroots level should be allowed to represent them in the Legislative Assembly as such people will leave no stone unturned to deliver justice to the people”. He further emphasized the urgent need for development in the tourism sector in Nagrota.
“Despite having significant religious and tourism destinations like the Kol Kandoli Temple, Surinsar Lake, Mathwar Shrine, and others, the area has remained neglected.
No political leader or elected representative has ever worked toward the promotion of tourism in Nagrota. Sites of immense religious and tourism significance are being left to deteriorate,” he lamented.
He also pointed out that schools and colleges are understaffed in Nagrota assembly constituency and the education system in disarray. “The only degree college in Jindrah, located in the Dansal block, continues to function from two rooms in a higher secondary school. The newly constructed building, which developed cracks before its inauguration, remains unused and stands as a symbol of corruption,” Sharma said.
He also took a swipe at the leaders for taking people for-granted and playing with their sentiments. “The promises made by political leaders, such as the establishment of administrative units like a sub-division in Nagrota and Tehsil status for Jindrah, have remained unfulfilled. These issues have constantly been ignored, with elected representatives continuing to play with the sentiments of the people of Nagrota,” he said.
“The people of Nagrota have had enough. They have understood the tactics of these political opportunists, and they will teach them a lesson in the upcoming by-election,” he said, adding “This is a turning point for Nagrota.
The people will no longer tolerate political opportunism and exploitation. It’s time for change, and the people will speak with their votes.”He also exposed the political backing for illegal mining activities in the Nagrota constituency. “There is a mafia operating in the region that is indulging in illegal mining of natural resources like river sand, gravel, stones and other minerals.
They are using large machines and JCBs to extract these minerals with impunity. Meanwhile, local people, who have historically earned their livelihood by extracting sand and stones from rivers and streams through horses, have been banned from doing so at the behest of these politically-supported mafia groups,” he stated.
Sharma called for immediate action to end the exploitation of natural resources and ensure that local people benefit from the resources in their own region.
He stressed that the upcoming by-election provides an opportunity for the people of Nagrota to make their voices heard and put an end to the exploitation they have endured for years.Earlier, a large enthusiastic crowd drawn from different walks of life gathered in Dansal block and gave rousing welcome to AJKPC president for launching a crusade of public reforms by announcing to contest the upcoming by-election in Nagrota assembly constituency.