Political leaders expoliting people of JK: Azad

Srinagar, Mar 26: In a veiled attack on the PDP and National Conference leaders, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad has said the people of the state have always been exploited by politicians for their own vested interests. ''For the past so many years, the political parties have fed the people of Jammu and Kashmir with hollow slogans. That is why schools, roads, hospitals have not come up and development works took a backseat, he told a public meeting at Langate in Handwara area of Kupwara district.

Mr Azad charged the political parties with exploiting the people in the name of Pakistan and ''Azadi (freedom)''.

''Now, some have coined other terms to continue with the exploitation. The exploitation goes on and the people are not given any chance to think,'' he added.

The Chief Minister said empty slogans could not bring about development and mitigate the sufferings of the people.

The Chief Minister also accused the politicians of misleading and instigating the people against India by giving one statement here and the other in New Delhi and elsewhere.

''At times, they accuse India and some time they say Jammu and Kashmir should have its own rule. But, they don't tell the people that even salaries to employees here come from New Delhi,'' he said in an indirect reference to the PDP's self-rule proposal.

Mr Azad said every political party in Jammu and Kashmir has attained mastery in the art of exploiting people. ''They have engaged people in different webs and don't provide them with a chance to come out of these,'' he added.

The Chief Minister said while India and Pakistan were talking, the Centre was also holding talks with the separatists in its efforts to find a lasting solution to the Kashmir issue.

''But, it does not mean we should do nothing till the solution comes and there be no development work. We cannot and should not wait till the solution because time never waits for anyone.'' Without naming the NC or the PDP, Mr Azad said for the past nine years, Rs 1800 crore have been invested on development works without administrative approval.

Soon after he took over as the Chief Minister, Mr Azad said his first step was to wage a war against corruption and remove the stigma of being the second corrupt state attached with Jammu and Kashmir. For the purpose, he said anti-corruption laws have been strengthened by legislations and the government has also initiated stringent actions, including confiscation of the property of the corrupt officials.

''The war against corruption will continue. Curbing corrupt practices is my government's top priority. We will eradicate all these evils from the society. In this battle, the youth of the state are with me,'' he added.

Mr Azad hailed the role of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi for development initiatives in Jammu and Kashmir and said the peace process launched by the UPA government was moving in the right direction.

He said the gigantic road construction programme and the Prime Minister's reconstruction plan of Rs 24,000 crore for infrastructure development would completely transform the state and open up new vistas for economic progress and employment generation.

Mr Azad said the state at present was under a significant phase of all-round development and historic decisions were being taken in the interest of the people to catapult development in every area.

Special thrust was being given on the development of rural and backward areas to ensure balanced development of all the three regions of the state, he added.

The Chief Minister said the recently enacted Roshni scheme was yet another farmer-friendly step which envisaged conferring of the ownership rights of about 17 lakh kanals of state land on the farmers free of cost.

Mr Azad said his government was also concentrating on expanding the orbit of employment generation in the state. Besides, the normal recruitment process, contractual appointments have been ordered in various important sectors, he added.

Referring to October 8, 2005 earthquake that killed hundreds of people and damaged properties and infrastructure, the Chief Minister showered praises on the UPA leadership for providing unprecedented relief and rehabilitation package.

He also lauded the Army and the Indian Air Force for rescue, relief and rehabilitation efforts after the earthquake, and praised the men in uniform for sincere and high quality public service.

Addressing the gathering, Union Water Resources Minister Saif-ud-Din Soz asked the people to be actively involved in the huge development process.

He said the peace process was shaping well and would continue till the desired results were achieved.

UNI

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