Bani/Lohai-Malhar/Dugian, April 24 (ANI): Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday asked the Central Government to send out a strong and firm message to China on the recent intrusion in the Ladakh area by Chinese troops, and added that this kind of situation always puts people living in frontier areas under difficulty, besides hampering the development process.
"We would like the Central Government to take up this issue with both China and Pakistan strongly and on same terms so that no such incident takes place in future," Abdullah said, adding that the Union Government's dealing on such issues should be unambiguous and similar vis-a-vis both neighbours.
Addressing largely attended public meetings in the remotest areas of Bani, Lohai-Malhar and Dugain some 300 kilometres from Jammu in Kathua District, Abdullah said that the people of Jammu, Kashmir, Leh, Kargil and all other areas of the state have given sacrifices to protect and preserve the solidarity, harmony and brotherhood.
"They want to be free from such intrusions and live in an atmosphere of calm and peace and carry on day-to-day life activities smoothly and without any interference", he asserted.
Abdullah further said that the state has witnessed militancy during a long period of over 20 years and had suffered a lot both in respect of loosing precious human lives and by way of huge damage to infrastructure and economy.
He said the gun has left deep wounds and has added difficulties in every sphere of life.
"Now, we are in the process of restoring peace and tranquillity and a beam of light is in sight at the end of the dark tunnel," he said.
Elaborating, he said, the government wants to percolate the benefits of peace holistically and equitably all across the state.
Abdullah praised the people of these areas for keeping the torch of communal harmony and brotherhood alight even under difficult circumstances.
He asked them to maintain and strengthen this characteristic and not be led astray by vested interests who try to divide them according to region, religion, creed or caste for their selfish ends.
Abdullah said that some people with vested interests are always out to hatch conspiracies and divide the people through various deceitful means, adding that their only goal is to create a wedge between different sections of society and benefit from this division.
"You commonly find such people during the election time. Their only goal is to divide you for vote bank politics," he said.
Without naming PDP and BJP, Abdullah who is also the Working President of National Conference, accused certain politicians of indulging in the boycott-business for political gain.
He said voters send them to the state assembly to highlight and resolve the general public's problems, but instead, they engage in politics and remain absent from these forums.
He said that his government has checked corruption, ensured transparency, empowered the public and brought the administration under the public's scanner.
Referring to the historic Public Service Guarantee Act, Abdullah said that through this legislation, his government has made administration legally bound to provide some 70 public services to the people in a time bound manner, adding that any failure or delay on this count, would make erring officials liable for punishment.
"This has turned the system on its head.Now, instead of you paying a bribe to get public services like electricity connection, tap connection, ration card, driving license, revenue papers, FIR copy, antecedence, passport clearance, house building permission and scores of similar other services, the officials involved in delaying or denying such services within the prescribed time frame have to pay a fine out of their salaries which shall be given to the affected consumer", he explained.
The chief minister also referred to the empowerment of Panchayats and said that these institutions have already been given powers from 14 departments and the need of the hour is that panches and sarpanches utilize these powers in full and help cultivate good governance at the grass roots.
He said panches and sarpanches should not only stick to financial powers alone but exercise the powers they have been given to check the functioning of primary schools, anganwari centres, CAPD ration depots and other similar activities having direct impact on the life of people.
Abdullah said his government has given full powers to the general public to question all government departments about their performance and functions.
"A common man has been entrusted with the power to question the government on its every action or commission under the Right to Information Act and get answers to his quires", he said adding that by this initiative entire government has been brought under full public scanner.
On development of remote and far-flung areas, Abdullah said that a regular visit to these areas by the political leadership and administrative heads is essential.
He said right from the time he took over as chief minister,he had undertaken such visits to far-flung and remote areas as the necessary feature in his working schedule and visit to Lohai-Malhar, Dugian and Bani like backward pockets today, is a part of his this schedule.
He said it gives him an opportunity to take first hand appraisal of the difficulties of people and helps to take decisions for the redressal of problems.
The chief minister said he would ask the Police Department to explore the potential of Lohai-Malhar, Bani, Dugain and other areas for on-spot police recruitment drives to provide opportunities to youth of these areas to get employment in police service.
The meetings were also addressed by MLC and Provincial President National Conference, Devender Singh Rana, former Deputy Speaker Legislative Assembly, Ghulam Hyder Malik, various sarpanches and local leader Bashir Ahmad.
On reaching Bani, Lohai-Malhar and Dugian, the Chief Minister was received by enthusiastic crowds chanting slogans in his favour. He was welcomed with flowers, garlands, flags and buntings. (ANI)
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