JAMMU: Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) Working President Raman Bhalla on Sunday accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of neglecting the historic religious sites of Parmandal and Utterbehni in Samba district and failing to provide adequate infrastructure and connectivity.
Addressing a meeting of Congress leaders and workers from Vijaypur, Ramgarh and Samba at the Pradesh Congress Committee headquarters in Jammu, Bhalla alleged that despite being in power for over 12 years, the BJP had failed to improve access to the two pilgrimage destinations.
He claimed that a key bridge required for connectivity from the national highway to Parmandal and Utterbehni had not been constructed and demanded a four-lane road to the religious sites. Bhalla further alleged that pilgrims and visitors were required to cross several causeways and nallahs to reach the destinations.
The Congress leader said the BJP’s claims of development and “Viksit Bharat” did not reflect the ground situation in several parts of Jammu region. He alleged that important pilgrimage and tourism destinations in and around Jammu had not received adequate attention during the BJP’s tenure.
Bhalla also urged party workers to strengthen the organisation at the grassroots level and raise issues related to development and public welfare.
During the meeting, local leaders highlighted issues affecting remote and border villages in Samba district, including road connectivity, agricultural land erosion along khads and nallahs, shortage of subject teachers in government schools and the need for flood protection measures.
Among those present were JKPCC Chief Spokesperson Ravinder Sharma, former MLC Ved Mahajan, former minister Yashpal Kundal, District Congress Committee Samba president Sanjeev Sharma, Working President Babbal Gupta, Sanjeev Panda, Neeraj Gupta, Vijay Chaudhary, Mohammad Sadiq and other local leaders.
