SAMBA: Apni Party President, Syed Mohammed Altaf Bukhari on Tuesday asked the Govt to explore new tourist destinations in both the Regions of Jammu and Kashmir to boost the local economy, improve infrastructure as well as provide employment to the youth at their doorstep.
“The situation in Kashmir has improved and the peaceful situation has attracted tourists from across the country and abroad. However, there is a need to explore new tourist destinations in rural and remote areas that would help in generating a source of permanent income at the village level and infrastructural development,” said Altaf Bukhari, while addressing a public rally that was organized in Samba by SC Wing Provincial President, Adv Lovely Singh Mangol.
Bukhari said that the situation needs to be made favourable for the people to stop their migration from the villages to the urban areas in search of employment by providing jobs /self-employment opportunities at their doorstep.
“This is possible when the tourists are attracted to the areas which are still to be explored and promoted on tourism maps by the authorities in Jammu region as well as in Kashmir region,” he said.
Expressing dismay over the ignorant attitude of the authorities towards the development of infrastructure in various religious as well as border tourist places, he said that religious tourists come to Jammu because of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Ji Shrine whereas the authorities have not made any efforts to explore the unexplored tourist potential.
He said that the development of Samba, Jammu, Kathua and other places is a must to attract tourists for religious or tourism purposes in both Jammu as well as in Kashmir Regions because it would generate employment and help the local economy to grow.
Besides, he said that the local population votes and supports the Apni Party candidates in the upcoming elections so that their areas can be represented by deserving candidates to resolve their issues and that the representative could be answerable to his voters.
He asked the people to become ambassadors of the Apni Party to bring equitable development, end discrimination and protect the rights of the local population.
He also criticized the poor infrastructure in educational and health institutions and the shabby condition of roads in Samba’s rural belt and other areas of Jammu.
He said that these institutions are working without adequate teaching staff in schools, paramedical/doctors, structures, and improper equipment.
“Unfortunately, people prefer private schools where infrastructure is available but quality and highly qualified teachers are available only in Govt schools that can impart quality education to the children. However, the Apni Party, if forms Govt, will focus on these areas for the upgradation and improving the quality of health care and education system in J&K,” he said while expressing dismay over the poor basic amenities in villages, roads, unscheduled electricity cuts, irregular drinking water supply system and other infrastructure related issues.
He said that his Party has no personal issues with any political party in Jammu and Kashmir. However, the Apni Party wants that they shall have focus on developing and protecting the rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. But these parties for the last seven decades worked for themselves, not for the people.
“The NC and PDP had their alliance Govt with BJP. The Govt in Delhi addresses developmental issues of Jammu and Kashmir. However, these parties only focused on resolving their personal issues instead of taking Jammu and Kashmir on the path of development in the last seven decades,” he added.
He sought the support of the people for the Party candidates in Ramgarh, Vijaypur and Samba and assured the people that their concerns would be resolved.
Meanwhile, he pledged to protect the rights of the local population in Jammu and Kashmir while saying that the liquor and mining mafia will be thrown out of Lakhanpur once his Party forms the Govt in J&K.
He said that the local traders, miners and workers have suffered in all these years due to the non-local mining and liquor mafia in J&K.
He also raised concern over the sidelining of J&K Administrative Service (JKAS) and J&K Police Service (JKPS) officers because the administration has been taken over by bureaucrats from outside J&K.
