POONCH: - Criticizing the traditional parties for deliberate neglect of Pir-Panjal region for decades, the Apni Party contesting candidate for Rajouri – Anantnag Parliamentary seat, Zafar Iqbal Manhas on Monday has said that he would strongly advocated Hilly Development Council for Rajouri and Poonch Districts with the separate allocation of funds for its overall development of the region to overcome the backwardness, ensure development on the ground, and improve infrastructure.
As a part of his ongoing election campaign in the region, the Party’s contesting candidate for the Rajouri – Anantnag Parliamentary seat, Manhas was accorded a grand welcome by the people of Poonch in different places including Chandi Marh, Buffliaz and other places of the District Poonch where he addressed the largely attended meetings. The largest public meeting was organized in the Poonch town after the impressive road show.
The Apni Party’s District President, Ex-MLA Shah Mohammed Tantry, and other district committee leaders were also present in the public meetings.
He received a rousing reception at different places where people in the shape of car/motorbike rally in hundreds took out rally in support of the Party’s candidate Zafar Iqbal Manhas sahab amid the zeal, and enthusiasm among the people who extended their support to him.
In his address, Zafar Iqbal Manhas lauded the people for their warm welcome that accorded him and the faith they have shown in his candidature.
“I assure you that I would fight for your rights that have been denied for decades by the traditional parties like National Conference, Congress Party, and Peoples Democratic Party,” he said.
Coming down heavily on the traditional parties, he accused these parties of the backwardness, and underdevelopment of the region.
On the other hand, he said that the PDP and Congress Party are the two sides of the same coin when referred to their role in Kashmir as Congress leaders.
He said that these parties were responsible for the troubled period in the region because they played divisive politics to remain in power, and divided the regions, and the people for one reason or the other.
While seeking general amnesty of the detained / arrested youth from the 90s from the region, he recalled how he opposed the registration of the FIRs against the innocent youth.
“The youth booked in different cases across the region, and other areas of Kashmir should be given general amnesty so that they can be brought back to the mainstream life,” he asserted, while holding NC, PDP, and Congress Party equally responsible for the suffering of the people.
Refuting the accusation of the traditional parties, he said that it was the National Conference which had become an alliance partner of the BJP at the center for the first time from J&K. Later, the same was followed by the PDP, when they formed a coalition Govt in the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir with the BJP against whom they had contested in the last assembly elections.
Asking the people to remain vigilant from the divisive forces, he asked them to come forward and elect a candidate who contests on merits to fight for their rights.
Earlier in another public meeting, Manhas sahab raised his concern about lack of development, shabby condition of roads, infrastructure, and basic amenities in the region.
Recalling how the traditional parties ignored the region regarding development, and promoted their political agenda, he said that they treated the inhabitants of the Region as their vote bank and worked to improve uplift their livelihood and provide employment to the youth.
“I assure that if I get elected to the Lok Sabha from Rajouri – Anantnag Parliamentary seat, I will make all possible efforts so that Rajouri-Poonch Region get a Hill Development Council and separate funds for the developmental purposes on the pattern of Ladakh,” he said in his address.
Being border region, he said that Rajouri and Poonch Districts have faced worst kind of human catastrophic due to hostile situation on the Line of Control, unprovoked ceasefire violations, increasing drug addiction menace, underdevelopment, inadequate specialized staff in educational and health sector, improper infrastructure, and issues of basic amenities remains unresolved.
“I assure you that I will do whatever is needed to address the issues of the people in the Region and provide them all the basic facilities, and improve their livelihood with quality education, and healthcare at the village level,” he added.
To address the political aspirations of the region, he said that there is a need that a separate parliamentary seat shall be given to the Pir-Panjal region.
“I will leave no stone unturned to try Pir-Panjal to get a separate parliamentary seat,” he assured the people in the public meeting.
Admitting that the region has a huge potential of tourism, he said that if the region is developed on the pattern of Europe, these picturesque areas along the Mughal Road/grazing yards hills, lush green mountains, historic buildings/architecture, culture, and literature is promoted, it would attract tourism, and will open up new avenues of employment for the local youth.
He also stressed on the need to construct two tunnels i.e., Dera Ke Gali and Peer Ke Gali on the historic Mughal Road that connects Pir Panjal with Kashmir Valley.
Besides, he also stressed on the special on the spot recruitment drive for the unemployed youth of Rajouri and Poonch.
“If I get elected to the Lok Sabha, I will try that our unemployed youth should be recruited through special recruitment drives in the Line of Control and remote villages,” he said.
Meanwhile, several other meetings with the people and the Party leaders were held in Poonch as a part of an election campaign by the Party candidate in which he has received an overwhelming response from the local population.
Later he expressed his gratitude to the people and the Party cadre for extending him support and organizing successful public meetings.
Besides, the District President, Poonch, and Ex-MLA, Shah Mohammed Tantray also addressed the gathering and highlighted the demands of the people.
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