Will fight for Jammu region's honour, dignity, says Congress leader Sham Lal Sharma

Jammu, Dec 4: Accusing the leaders hailing from the Kashmir Valley of showing disregards for the people of Jammu, Congress leader Sham Lal Sharma on Thursday said he would continue to struggle for honour and dignity of the region.

On the campaign trial in the Akhnoor border constituency of Jammu district, state minister Sharma told the electorate that "my struggle for Jammu's cause will continue". The minister said he would continue to fight for ensuring that the state has a chief minister from the region and the youths gets migrants reservations in professional colleges in other states.

Addressing a series of rallies in Sungal and Bhardal Khurd panchayats, Sharma said he always fought for the rights of the Jammu people but "our misfortune is that our destinies are ruled by Kashmiri rulers who show no regards for us". He claimed that even within his own Congress party he had to taken a firm stand to impress upon the leadership to support his voice for Jammu.

Reaching out to the rural Akhnoor, the minister promised to carve out 'Bhardal Khurd-Sungal Sumah' as a Satellite Town if Congress forms the next government in the state.

Sharma said, "People from all three regions believe that the Congress alone has the commitments towards the people who are suffering from multiple problems and rehabilitation challenges... Above all the state needs political stability which no other outfit even bothered to talk about while seeking popular mandate."

The minister said his sincere efforts in the past 12 years have ensure development of Sumah Dev Sathan which is now being visited by thousands of disciples. Criticising National Conference over its stand on Jammu and Kashmir's accession to India, Sharma said the ruling party's old ploys will no longer help it survive the certain rout it faces in the ongoing Assembly elections.

Sharma also slammed the BJP for its alleged bid to create uncertainties in the state. He said the environment of political stability, which was established by nationalist forces led by Congress, was being sacrificed by BJP and NC for their lust for power.

PTI