Denial of Statehood Hitting J&K’s Development Prospects: Javed Rana

All the promises made by NC Manifesto will be fulfill: Rattan Lal Gupta

JK News Today

Jammu, April 24: Senior Jammu and Kashmir National Conference leader and Minister for Jal Shakti, Forest and Tribal Affairs, Javed Rana, today said that the long-promised restoration of statehood is not merely a constitutional obligation but the key to restoring effective governance and accelerating development in Jammu and Kashmir.

Addressing a massive gathering of party functionaries and workers in Doda during the second leg of his five-day Chenab Valley visit. The meeting was presided our by Shadab Suharwardy District President Doda Urban. Others who were present Rattan Lal Gupta Provincial President J&K National Conference Jammu, Abdul Gani Teli Chairman OBC Cell, Harshvardhan Singh President NCSU, Naveed Hashmi Zonal President Chenab Valley Zone YNC, Asim Hashmi former DDC Member, Farooq Ahmad (Gazi) District Secretary Doda Urban, Sarshad Natnoo former BDC Chairman and Zaffarullah Rather. Rana asserted that without full statehood, bureaucratic bottlenecks and policy paralysis will continue to hamper progress. He urged the Centre to act decisively and honour its commitment without further delay.

Rana, in his address, highlighted the pro-people initiatives taken by the Omar Abdullah-led government to undo the developmental setbacks of the previous decade under non-NC regimes. He said the Jammu region is back on the path of growth, with focused investments in education, infrastructure, employment generation, healthcare, and welfare of backward and economically weaker sections.

He added that the government is committed to inclusive governance and will fulfill every promise made in its manifesto. However, he noted that the delay in restoration of statehood has had a debilitating impact on developmental outreach, given the region’s geographical and linguistic diversity and its unique challenges, which cannot be effectively addressed under the present Union Territory setup.

Echoing these views, Rattan Lal Gupta said the government has faced multiple challenges since assuming office, including depleted finances, natural calamities, and the Pahalgam attack. He alleged that the previous BJP-PDP regimes had weakened governance and reduced public participation, issues that are now being reversed.

Gupta said the present government has made governance more accessible and people-centric, introducing welfare measures such as free travel for women, 200 units of free electricity, additional ration support, enhanced social welfare pensions, and employment initiatives. Mr Gupta said the Omar Abdullah led Government is committed to fulfill all promises made in the party manifesto.

He further urged the party functionaries to gear up their cadre for the upcoming Panchayat and Local Bodies elections.

Others who were present included: Abrar Ahmad Zargar District President Doda Urban YNC, Nissar Gatoo Advocate District Secretary Doda Urban YNC, Mukand Lal Bandral,Abdul Manan Banday, Anita Thakur District Vice President Women Wing Doda, Block President’s and Block Secretaries were also present.