VIJAYPUR: Senior National Conference leaders Surjeet Singh Slathia and Devender Singh Rana today vowed to quit politics rather than tolerating or allowing any compromise with the interests of the Jammu Region. “We have been votaries of equitable development of all the regions and sub-regions of Jammu and Kashmir with opportunities of progress to all, irrespective of caste, creed, colour, region or religion”, Provincial President Devender Singh Rana said while addressing along with Surjeet Singh Slathia a public meeting at Ramgarh area of the Vijaypur Assembly Constituency.
However, Rana lamented over brazen discrimination with the Jammu, especially in respect of development and jobs, saying the people will not forgive those who betrayed with the legitimate interests of the region. He drew comparison between the governance of the past six years with different spells of National Conference rule and said the tempo of development came to a grinding halt in the recent past. The Provincial President called for course correction in the governance, saying this will happen when all the regions and sub-regions get their share as a matter of right. No region or religious group should feel marginalised. They are needed to be tied in the bonds of amity and camaraderie. It is with this purpose the JAMMU DECLARATION has been proposed and the concept emanating from the pluralistic Jammu region is all the more important as it will bring into its ambit all the areas right from Ladakh to the Valley and here up to Lakhanpur. Under this declaration, there will be no room for suspicion and mistrust with bonhomie between regions and religions becoming core of mutual existence, he added. Addressing the gathering, former minister and State Secretary Surjeet Singh Slathia said the National Conference will fully shoulder its responsibility and commitment to the people in respect of development, jobs and upholding their dignity. “NC is committed to fight against all the attempts of dividing the society on regional and religious basis”, Slathia said, adding that a united Jammu and Kashmir stands guarantee to peace, progress and prosperity. Slathia expressed concern over the slow pace of execution on various developmental projects and delay in filling up the vacancies in order to address the burgeoning unemployment problem, which has accumulated in recent years. Referring to the local issues, the former minister urged the administration to take up the protection bund at Barota earnestly to avert any untoward incident during the rains. He also expressed concern over slapping farmers and rural poor with hefty power bills and called for one time amnesty to enable those under arrears to clear outstanding after the waived off amounts and make use of power. Surjeet Singh Slathia also sought expeditious payment of one time settlement amount in favour of the pending displaced families. The cases are long overdue and are needed to be settled on an immediate basis, he added. Slathia also sought release of compensation cum relief on account of ditches in the border areas and urged the administration to take up work on the Khanpora road on priority. Ajaz Jan Provincial President YNC and Ab. Majeed former MLA Homeshalibug were also present. On the occasion Retired Col. Sukhwinder Singh, Harpreet Kour Panch BJP, Balbir Singh, Arjun Singh, Bachan Singh and Karnail Singh joined the National Conference. Rana and Slathia welcomed the new entrants into the party fold, expressing the hope that with their joining National Conference will be further strengthened at the grass roots level.
The senior leaders also constituted a new Block Committee of the National Conference for Ramgarh with appointment of Prem Pal Choudhary as Block President, Ram Lal as Block Vice President and Balbir Singh as Block Secretary. Also Harvinder Singh was nominated as President Youth NC Block Ramgarh, Sanjeev Kumar Vice President NC Block Ramgarh Kamal Kumar Joint Secretary, Lakhwinder Singh, Salakhan Singh, Kamal Kumar, Virvarinder Singh, Bhaskar Choudhary, Sanjeev Sargal as Members
