JAMMU,Aug 26: AICC Vice President Shri Rahul Gandhi today visited Balakote area of Mendhar in Poonch to meet the victims of Pakistan shelling. Six persons were killed and several others were injured in the area few days back in the heightened shelling from across the border.While interacting with the families of those martyred and injured in the shelling from across the border, Shri Rahul Gandhi expressed grief and sorrow and told them that he has come to share their pain and sufferings. He expressed his sympathies and solidarity with them.
The victim families and other residents near Loc narrated their woes and hardships being faced by them, who live under constant threat to their lives and loss to their properties. Their houses get damaged, livestock become the target and the crops get destroyed and they are not able to cultivate their lands. Their children also suffer on account of disruption of educational activities and other normal activities due to constant fear.
They demanded insurance cover to their lives and property including cross and safe shelters for their living.Shri Rahul Gandhi while expressing concern over their plight and sufferings justified their demands and demanded that the government of India and State government should take positive steps in this direction. He lauded their valour and described them as unarmed soldiers of the country. He assured them that Congress party would do every thing possible to voice their concern and support their genuine demands.
Responding to media queries about BJP’s charge that Congress is politicizing border situation, Shri Gandhi said that it is unfortunate that they (BJP)see politics in it, when we come to share the grief and pain of the victims and raise the voice about their sufferings. He said that BJP leadership made tall claims in this regard during elections but forget to fulfill, when came to power both at the Centre and in the State.
He took a dig at the Prime Minister for his silence over various commitments and promises made to the people during election campaign, be it border situation, terrorism or issues of corruption and impropriety of their leaders in various matters and the promise of transferring Rs. 15 lakhs to the bank accounts of countrymen by bringing back black money.
Later interacting with the representatives of Panchayats from across Jammu region here at Jammu, Shri Gandhi listened to their views and experiences about the present functioning of the Panchayati Raj in the State. Various representatives from all over Jammu Province expressed their views and charged the present Govt. of totally neglecting the Panchayats in their functioning. Some of them expressed vendetta of the present Govt. in ignoring the elected representatives of people at grass root level. They expressed gratitude to Shri Rahul Gandhi for the support extended by him and the Congress party for incorporating the provisions of 73rd amendment in to the State Panchayat Raj Act.
Addressing the gathering AICC Vice President underlined the importance of PRI in this State and said that an empowered Panchayat Raj means strengthening the democracy at the grass root level and ensuring the participatory democracy which is essential for achieving everlasting peace in this State and addressing the developmental needs of the people at the lowest levels.
Shri Gandhi urged them to strengthen Congress party and the values and principles it stands for, which means strengthening the bonds of unity and brotherhood. He reiterated the commitment of the Congress party to fully empower and further strengthen Panchayat Raj in the State.
Shri Rahul Gandhi later met a number of delegations representing different sections of the society which included representatives from Chamber & Industry, Lawyers, DPs of 1947, 1965 and 1971, the Farmers, Kashmiri migrants, residents of border areas and ex-servicemen demanding One Rank One Pension.
He also held interaction with the leaders of PCC, Dist. Presidents, Block Presidents and representatives of Frontal Organizations of the party at ‘Vedas Hall’. He told the party men that unlike in the BJP, the Congress has the tradition of inner party democracy and the leaders and workers have the liberty to express the voice in an appropriate manner. However he said everyone has to understand the difference between inner party democracy and indiscipline. Everyone in the party has to understand this in order to strengthen the party. He assured the workers that the genuine and dedicated workers connected with the people at grass roots would be encouraged within the party while those who damage the prospects of the party during the elections do not deserve leniency.Shri Gandhi was accompanied by AICC General Secretary, Incharge J&K affairs Smt. Ambika Soni and President JKPCC Ghulam Ahmed Mir during his visit. All India Youth Congress President Amrinder Singh Raja Barar was also present in the functions here today.
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