Cong to make development a buzzword in JK Assembly polls: Azad

Senior Congress leader Gulam Nabi Azad today said his party will make "development" a buzzword in its campaign for the upcoming Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections and urged people not to vote for "divisive and regressive forces" in the state.
He said the Congress-led Government during his tenure as Chief Minister from 2006-08 in the state gave a new paradigm of development and governance which was characterized by all-round and equitable development, efficiency, transparency and a people-friendly image.
Azad, accompanied by All India Congress Committee General Secretary Ambika Soni, was here addressing public meetings in Chenab Valley at Figsoo, Tanta, Seeru, Sewa, Dessa and Charota to garner support of the people for Congress candidates.

He urged people of his home turf Chenab Valley and the rest of the state to vote decisively in favour of his party.
"We made development as a narrative and discourse in the State (between 2006-08), and dispersed the fruits of development in every nook and corner of the State," the Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha said.
Azad exuded confidence that the people of his home turf Chenab Valley will "stand united against the conspiracies being hatched by outside forces to divide them" and urged them to help him in fulfilling his dream of converting the area into a "Model Region" of the state.

The former J&K chief minister said that Congress has given a sense of belonging and identity to the backward and neglected region of Chenab Valley.
Azad alleged those who do not want this neglected region of the Valley to flourish are plotting to divide its people on religious lines and the people of Jammu and Kashmir will defeat the nefarious design of divisive and regressive forces.
"I have full faith in the wisdom and maturity of the people of Chenab Valley who will not let vested interests weaken their political strength and advantage gained after years of neglect and deprivation," he said.