NC, Cong exploited people of Chenab Valley region: PDP

Asserting that the recently held Lok Sabha elections should be an eye-opener for the ruling dispensation, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) today lambasted National Conference (NC) and Congress for "exploiting" the people of Chenab Valley region for their "lust of power".
"Recently held Lok Sabha elections should be an eye-opener for the ruling dispensation in the state. NC and Congress are battering people of Chenab Valley region, which remained the source of their power in Jammu and Kashmir", PDP MLC and Chief Spokesperson Naeem Akhtar said while addressing a day-long convention of PDP Youth wing in Doda, 180-kms from here today.

"It was first NC which exploited the people of this backward and hilly region for several decades. Later Congress came to power in the state by unprecedented support from this region but unfortunately both the parties treated the people of Chenab Valley not more than vote bank, betraying their trust for the lust of power and luxuries," he said.
He said that Chenab Valley relied heavily upon both NC and Congress but the only visible change on developmental and peace front was witnessed in the hilly region during the short tenure of Mufti Muhammad Sayed.
"We did not have a political stake in the region, post 2002 elections, but the party patron and the then Chief Minister Mufti Muhammad Sayed made it a point to ensure development of this mountainous valley", Akhtar claimed.

"Ironically the developmental initiatives taken by the previous government were stalled by the present dispensation and the fact has been time and again publicly realised by the Congress leadership also," he alleged,
He said that the PDP fought the recently contested LS polls presenting its own agenda and policies instead of going for "unwanted and unprecedented criticism" of the political opponents. "We were understood and appreciated by the people for our vision and honesty and the success of the party in the polls stands testimony of our belief", he said.