Visit of P Chidambaram in J&K State Sought strengthening of State Accountability Commission (SAC) and constitution of State Vigilance Commission at the earliest.Vakil

PDP instead of playing the constructive role

as opposition is only eying on power

GNS (SRINAGAR) SHANGUS 24 May : Former Minister and AICC member Abdul Gani Vakil today lauded the visit of union home minister P Chidambaram to J&K State and reviewing of security by him especially in wake of growing tourist season and Shri Amarnath yatra. He said that union home minister’s concern to reduce visibility of paramilitary forces from Kashmir will go a long way in restoring people’s free movement and built their confidence.

Addressing a public meeting at Brakpora Shangus in Anantnag today, Vakil said that the misguided youth who were returning to their families in Kashmir also need to be rehabilitated and added that P Chidambaram’s concern that legal procedure must also be adopted in their return via Nepal is also right. He said that the union government by giving a go ahead to the rehabilitation policy has done great justice with the misguided youth as well as their families.

He also appreciated the union government for releasing ample funds for development of Jammu and Kashmir and especially for developing tourism sites. Addressing the gathering Gani Vakil said that coalition was working hard to ensure equitable development of all three regions of the state but regretted that delay in empowering Panchayats and holding of elections to local bodies was proving counter-productive.

He hoped that Panchayats which have been rendered redundant will be empowered after extending 73^rd amendment to the J&K Panchayati Raj Act and simultaneously elections to local bodies will also be held. He also sought strengthening of State Accountability Commission (SAC) and constitution of State Vigilance Commission at the earliest.

Coming down heavily on People’s Democratic Party (PDP) the main opposition party, Vakil said that it was playing to the gallery and doing nothing. PDP, he said instead of playing the role of opposition was eying on power. The role of the opposition is to identify the grey areas and point them to the government so that the system remains vibrant. However, the power hungry PDP was more interested in mudslinging rather than playing a constructive role.

Lauding the efforts of union health minister Ghulam Nabi Azad in initiating development project during his tenure, Vakil asked the government to ensure timely completion of same projects. He asked the government to start the construction work on pediatrics hospitals on the land identified by former chief minister Ghulam Nabi Azad so that work load on G B Pant hospital is reduced. During his concluding speech the former minister lauded AICC Chief Sonia Gandhi and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi for initiating a process of having a new PCC in Jammu and Kashmir.

He said that a resolution has been passed in the convention empowering Sonia Gandhi to appoint a PCC Chief and executive members. The elections of PYCC were also going on in the state and he hoped that the new team and its president will work for strengthening the Congress at all levels.

Besides others who addressed the gathering include General Secretary J&K PCC Dr. Abdul Ahad Yatoo, Sr. Congress leader Wajahat Hussain (Advocate), District Sevadal Chief Gul Mohammad and many others.