SRINAGAR: Buddies Omar and Rahul played the dynastic cord and said cementing of the generational relationship will help J&K develop fast and perform better. They met near picturesque Sonamarg where Surface Communications Minister C P Joshi laid the foundation stone of twin-lane 6.5 kms Rs 2716 crore tunnel that would make the picnic spot accessible round the year.
"I myself am from (a) Kashmiri family and want to have lifelong relations with the people of J&K," Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi said in his brief speech. Invoking life long relationship betweenJawaharlal Nehru and Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah,
Rahul said he is extending the same support to Omar Abdullah for the holistic and comprehensive development of the state. "I want to strengthen these relations," he said.
Rahul wants youth of J&K to get involved in development process. "I want to hear you, understand your problems and work for their redressal", Rahul said. "I visited J&K last year; I came here again this year and would come again and again to meet the people. I adding want to share the difficulties of people."
The young leader of the Congress being referred to as the 'heir apparent' said all the states in India have undergone significant development in all fields of life. "Every state enjoyed share in the development process and J&K deserves all round development and economic welfare."
To engage the youth, Rahul is driving some of the most prominent names of the corporate India to the fascinating University of Kashmir campus. Police sources said Ratan Tata, Kumara Manglam Birla, Deepak Parekh and Azim Premji are some of the faces who will join him on Friday when he drives to the University of Kashmir, for the second time, along with some of the NSUI members.
In his last visit, Rahul had detailed interactions with the local biggies from the business.
Rahul landed in Leh where PCC Chief Prof Saif ud Din Soz received him along with Congress minister Nawang Rigzin Jora. He had detailed interactions with the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development (LAHDC) officials in Leh.
He told a gathering in Leh's Polo Grounds that Congress will do everything possible to reduce the problems of the people especially in remote belts like Ladakh. The foundation laying of the tunnel near Sonamarg is part of the process of making Ladakh accessible throughout the year. He said work would soon start to create another road link from Leh via Korzok to have some connectivity with Jammu as well.
Impressed by the festivity of Leh (he had visited the arid region during the 2010 tragedy), Rahul took off to Kargil where he met people and interacted with the LAHDC, Kargil officials. After spending more than an hour there, Rahul flew to Gagangir to join C P Joshi and Omar Abdullah and his cabinet at the foundation laying of the tunnel.
The road, primarily a pressing requirement for defence, would require another twin lane 13 kms tunnel near Baltal to bypass the perilous Zoji La pass. It is expected to cost another Rs 5500 crore. Once the two tunnels are ready, Ladakh's six-months-a-year isolation from rest of the world will end.
"While we have to negotiate various challenges on development front and deal with militancy related issues, we have to focus on addressing political issues of the State simultaneously", Omar said in his speech after formally receiving his friend at Gagangir. He asked for resumption of a dialogue process between Centre and the state like restoration of bilateralism between India and Pakistan. Invoking the relationship between Nehru and Sheikh, Indira and Sheikh, his dad Farooq Abdullah and Rajiv Gandhi, Omar said he also has joined hands with Rahul to resolve political and development issues pertaining to J&K.
UPA government, Omar hoped would focus on accelerating the process of addressing J&K- centric issues and initiate centre-state internal dialogue to help strengthen state's bonds with the country and ensure holistic development and welfare of the people in a peaceful and tranquil atmosphere.
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