Ramnagar: With nation amazed over the reduction of prices of petrol and diesel by one paisa, Harsh Dev Singh Chairman JKNPP and former Minister questioned as to whether it was a relief or a cruel joke with the people of the country. He said that it was for the first time in history that petrol prices had exceeded Rs. 80/- per litre and diesel prices gone above Rs.70/- per litre despite repeated assurances and lofty promises of the govt to keep the same in check. Expressing concern over the steep rise in the prices of petroleum products and LPG, he said that it had paved the way for onset of inflationary tendencies in the country. The prices of essential commodities were likely to be affected in view of increase in freight charges which was a natural concomitant of increased petrol and diesel prices, added Singh. Reminding the Prime Minister of his tall slogans of curbing inflation and regulating prices of all essentials particularly petrol and diesel, Singh regretted that it too had proved to be a ‘Jumla’ an election gimmick. He was addressing a public meeting in Kaghote and Ramnagar town today.
Making a mention of some of the impartment election time announcements, Singh said that the promise of two crore Jobs each year for unemployed youth had also proved a hoax causing much disenchantment amongst the educated youth. He said that educated youth of J&K had much to suffer in view of negligible Jobs and invocation of SRO-202 for filling up the some. He regretted that even the contractuals and daily wagers in J&K were subjected to the most callous treatment with their negligible honorarium remaining unpaid for months and all the promises of regularization proving fake. Calling upon the people to support their own regional party, Singh said that local issues could be best addressed by local leadership only.
Alleging neglect and deprivation of Ramnagar constituency in the matter of development, Harsh Dev Singh called upon the govt. to appropriately and adequately address the developmental issues of the said areas in view of wide spread public resentment brewing therein. He regretted that development initiatives launched by him in the past had come to a grinding halt with no action whatsoever to activate the derailed projects which continued to remain in limbo for the last around more than three years. Expressing grave concern over the pathetic plight of the existing roads, chaotic power supply system, dysfunctional water supply schemes, corruption plagued Rural Dev and Food and supplies Deptt and staff deficient schooling system, Singh deplored that Ramnagar constituency once known for revolutionary growth and development had been relegated to the position of tail ender in the matter of development.
Taking a pot shot at the incumbent leadership, Singh said that it happened for the first time that Ramnagar constituency was totally ignored rather eclipsed in allocation of roads in Phase-XI of PMGSY with not a single new road having been assigned to the said constituency despite demands of connectivity from several far flung and remote area habitations. He expressed grave concern over the non commencement of construction, upgradation work over most of the PMGSY schemes got sanctioned by him under Phase-X during 2013-14. He called for immediate commencement of work over Balota-Barrian road and Kansala-Kultair road which though sanctioned for construction four years back continued to suffer due to administrative apathy and criminal neglect of the concerned agencies. He called for early up-gradation of Garh Samnabhanj road, Chore Panjian road, Katwalat road, Gundian-Sunetar road which stood approved since 2017. He further called for early electrification of left over hamlets of remote areas and argumentation of power supply in the low voltage areas. He cautioned the Power Dev officials to stop charging money from the affected population for replacement of damaged transformers. He condemned the CAPD for pilferage of ration meant for BPL besides extremely poor quality of rice and wheat supplied to ration cord holders. He regretted the deplorable plight of hundreds of defunct hand pumps which had not been repaired for the last several months with affected people repairing the same at their own expense. He said that it happened for the first time that people of various villages had to contribute from their pockets to ensure private repairs of the damaged roads.
Urging upon the District and local administration to identify the officials responsible for withholding the payment of compensation to the farmers for lands acquired from them under PMGSY, Harsh called for stringent punitive action against such delinquents. He called for immediate credit of compensation amount to the accounts of farmers for various PMGSY roads warned of farmers agitation in case of any further harassment of poor indigent farmers. He warmed to avail legal remedy in case the complaints of loot and plunder of MGNREGA funds were disregarded by the govt seeking at the same time appropriate punitive action against the delinquent officers/officials and further sought immediate release of pending wages of workers under MGNREGA. He warmed that exploitation of rural folk, farming community and marginalized sections shall no longer be tolerated.