Jammu February 13 (KNS): Apni Party President, Syed Mohammed Altaf Bukhari on Tuesday asked the Govt to explore new tourist destinations in both the Regions of Jammu and Kashmir to boost local economy, improve infrastructure as well as provide employment to the youth at their doorstep.
“The situation in Kashmir has improved and the peaceful situation has attracted tourists from across the country and abroad. However, there is a need to explore new tourist destination in rural and remote areas that would help in generating a source of permanent income at the village level and infrastructural development,” said Altaf Bukhari, while addressing a public rally that was organized in Samba by SC Wing Provincial President, Adv Lovely Singh Mangol.
Bukhari said that the situation needs to be made favorable for the people to stop their migration from the villages to the urban areas in search of employment by providing jobs /self-employment opportunities at their doorstep.
“This is possible when the tourists are attracted to the areas which are still to be explored and promoted on tourism maps by the authorities in Jammu region as well as in Kashmir region,” he said.
Expressing dismay over the ignorant attitude of the authorities towards the development of infrastructure in various religious as well as border tourist places, he said that religious tourists come to Jammu because of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Ji Shrine whereas the authorities have not made any efforts to explore the unexplored tourist potential.
He said that the development of Samba, Jammu, Kathua and other places is must to attract tourists for religious or tourism purposes in both Jammu as well as in Kashmir Regions because it would generate employment and help the local economy to grow.
Besides, he said that the local population vote and support the Apni Party candidates in the upcoming elections so that their areas can be represented by the deserving candidate to resolve their issues and that representative could be answerable to his voters.
He asked the people to become ambassadors of the Apni Party to bring equitable development, end discrimination and protect the rights of the local population.
He also criticized the poor infrastructure in educational and health institutions and shabby condition of roads in Samba’s rural belt and other areas of Jammu.
He said that these institutions are working without adequate teaching staff in schools, paramedical / doctors, structures, and improper equipment.
“Unfortunately, people prefer private schools where infrastructure is available but quality and highly qualified teachers are available only in Govt schools that can impart quality education to the children. However, the Apni Party, if forms Govt, will focus on these areas for the upgradation and improving the quality of health care and education system in J&K,” he said, while expressing dismay over the poor basic amenities in villages, roads, unscheduled electricity cuts, irregular drinking water supply system and other infrastructure related issues.
He said that his Party has no personal issues with any political party in Jammu and Kashmir. However, the Apni Party wants that they shall have focused on developing and protecting the rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. But these parties for the last seven decades worked for themselves, not for the people.
“The NC and PDP had their alliance Govt with BJP. The Govt in Delhi addresses developmental issues of Jammu and Kashmir. However, these parties only focused on resolving their personal issues instead of taking Jammu and Kashmir on the path of development in the last seven decades,” he added.
He sought support of the people for the Party candidates in Ramgarh, Vijaypur and Samba and assured the people that their concerns will be resolved.
Meanwhile, he pledged to protect the rights of the local population in Jammu and Kashmir while saying that the liquor and mining mafia will be thrown out of Lakhanpur once his Party forms the Govt in J&K.
He said that the local traders, miners and workers have suffered in all these years due to the non-local mining and liquor mafia in J&K.
He also raised concern over the sidelining of J&K Administrative Service (JKAS) and J&K Police Service (JKPS) officers because the administration has been taken over by bureaucrats from outside J&K.
“We have capable JKAS/JKPS officers who have been cornered by the present Govt and no one is listening to them. The officers from outside J&K have no connection with the people. Therefore, it has multiplied the issues in the erstwhile state that need to be addressed and the Apni Party will take a call on the burning issue,” he added.
He also recalled the impact of stopping annual Darbar Move practice in Jammu and Kashmir that had a positive effect on the business.
He said that his Party will restore the annual Darbar Move practice that had brought the people of two regions together and encouraged brotherhood among the people from different faiths.
He also raised the question how the local youth are discouraged whenever they approach to start an industrial unit.
“The local youth are face hurdles in the shape of formalities, bank loan, pollution certificates, allotment of industrial land and other hardships whereas the outsiders are helped by the administration by granting them land lease, bank loan and fulfilling formalities within no time,” he said, while seeking accountability on the issue.
Regarding unemployment and underdevelopment in Samba, Jammu, Kathua, he appealed to the people of Jammu plains to get united and support the Party so that their issues can be resolved by the local leadership.
Meanwhile, Provincial President of the Party, S. Manjit Singh recalled how the historic state of J&K was downgraded into two Union Territories and appealed to the people to raise their voice for the restoration of statehood and holding of assembly elections in J&K.
He demanded development of infrastructure and development of religious tourism sites i.e., Parmandal, Uttarbani, Baba Sidh Goria, Chamlayal along the Indo-Pak Border in Samba, Goran Devta, Mansar Lake, and other places.
“The tourism in these places can be promoted if the infrastructure is developed with the proper road, electricity, water, canteens/restaurants, resorts and promotion by the tourist department,” he said, and the promotion of tourism can help in generating employment.
He also expressed concern over the denial of jobs at the higher level to the local youth in the industrial sector and influence of outsiders.
“The local youth are provided lower grade jobs in the industrial sector in Samba, Kathua and Jammu whereas the outsiders are provided employment at the skilled/manager level that is highly objectionable, and the authorities must protect the rights of the locals,” he added.
On this occasion, organizer of the public rally, Lovely Mangol also addressed the gathering and highlighted the local issues.
Prominent among those who were present on the occasion include Additional General Secretary, Arun Kumar Chibber, District President, Samba, Raman Thappa, ST Wing State President, Saleem Alam, State President, Apni Trade Union, Ajaz Kazmi, Vice President Youth/Media Coordinator/Spokesperson, Raqeeq Ahmed Khan, State General Secretary Youth / Spokesperson, Abhay Bakaya, Adil Wani, Provincial President Women Wing, Pavneet Kour, Provincial President Youth Wing, Vipul Bali, Neelam Gupta, Sheetal Sharma, Vikram Rathore, Rafiq Balute, Balbir Singh Bawa, Joginder Singh, Vishal Nariana, District President, Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, Kulvinder Singh, Adv Sahil Bharti, Raj Kumar Bhagat, Darbar Chand, Bachan Choudhary, Raman Sharma, Capt Mohan Lal Sharma, Babu Ram, Brij Mohan Dutta, Amrit Singh, Awaran Singh, Sunny Sambyal, Irshan Choudhary, Satpal, Ravi Kumar, Rakesh Kumar, Tara Chand, Joginder, Kamal Kumar, Ashwani Bhagat, Ravi Kumar and others.(KNS)