AKHNOOR, Sep 4: Working President J&K Congress and former Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand addressed a public meeting at Pargwal in the Akhnoor Assembly constituency, which witnessed the participation of a large number of people from the surrounding areas.
During the meeting, local residents openly highlighted several problems confronting the area, including poor road conditions, damaged lanes and drains, incomplete infrastructure projects, flood-related losses, ration cards, pensions, unemployment and rising prices.
Addressing the gathering, Tara Chand said that both the Central and Jammu & Kashmir Governments have failed to fulfil the promises made to the people during elections. He said that the common people are facing serious difficulties, while the governments have failed to provide adequate relief.
Recalling his tenure as the representative of the area, Tara Chand said that he represented Pargwal three times and worked extensively for its development.
He said, “During my tenure, a network of roads was developed in Pargwal and every village was connected with roads. But today, even after 12 years, the condition of roads, lanes and drains is extremely poor. It is painful to see that even the development works carried out during my tenure have not been properly repaired or maintained.”
Tara Chand said that the floods last year caused extensive damage to infrastructure and affected many families. However, he alleged that proper compensation has still not reached several affected people. He demanded a fresh assessment of losses and timely compensation to all eligible victims.
Highlighting the delay in the Pargwal-Indri bridge project, Tara Chand said that he had laid the foundation stone of the bridge during his tenure, but even after nearly 12 years, the project remains incomplete. He urged the government to complete the bridge on priority to improve connectivity in the border area.
He also raised the issue of people facing difficulties in obtaining ration cards and new pensions, saying that poor and elderly residents should not be forced to make repeated visits to government offices to avail basic welfare benefits.
On inflation, Tara Chand said, “Inflation has broken the back of the common man. Those who sought votes in the name of controlling inflation have today put an additional burden on the same people. The common man is struggling to meet household expenses.”
Speaking about border areas, he said the government must provide special attention to the youth living along the border. He recalled that during his tenure, recruitment opportunities provided young people with opportunities to join the police and armed forces. He criticised the Agniveer system and demanded more permanent employment opportunities for border youth.
Tara Chand also questioned the government over its promises of one lakh government jobs and 200 units of free electricity, asking why these commitments have not been fulfilled. He said rising electricity costs are putting additional pressure on poor and middle-class families.
Supporting the ongoing demands of intern doctors in Jammu and Kashmir for an increase in their monthly stipend, Tara Chand urged the government to engage with the protesting doctors and resolve their genuine demands at the earliest.
Appealing to the people to support Congress, Tara Chand said that the party has always stood with the common people and fought for their rights. He called upon Congress workers to remain connected with the public, raise their genuine issues and strengthen the party organisation at the grassroots level. He assured the people of Pargwal and the surrounding border areas that Congress would continue to raise their concerns and fight for their legitimate rights at every appropriate forum.
Prominent among those present on the occasion included Narinder Sharma General Secretary PCC, RA Inqalabi National Coordinator AICC Adivasi Department, Hoshiar Singh Secretary PCC, Vijay Shastri Secretary PCC, Madan Lal Sharma, District VP Rural, Daljeet Singh Block President Pargwal, Jagdish Sharma Block President, Anil Singh Block President, Rashpal Singh, Somraj Sharma, KK Bhagat, Vijay Kumari, Bodhraj Sharma, Bittu Chib, Kamal Sharma, Sanjeev kumar and others.