Jammu interest un-compromisable: Rana

Jammu, Sep 4: While taking pride in their assimilative and inclusive ethos, National Conference Provincial President Devender Singh Rana Saturday said though the people of Jammu are broadminded yet they won’t compromise with the interest of the region and its sub regions come what may.
“Jammu, the land of warriors and diverse religious, linguistic and ethnic communities has always known to give rather than take, but this spirit of sacrifice should not be mistaken as weakness or willingness to be taken for granted”, Rana said while welcoming the former DIG Police Ashok Kumar Atri in National Conference fold here this morning in the presence of Senior leaders Surjeet Singh Slathia, Rattan Lal Gupta, Sheikh Bashir Ahmed and Som Nath Khajuria.
Rana said the people of the Jammu region, irrespective of religion, caste and creed, believe in the singular entity of Jammu and Kashmir, as jewel in the crown of India, and thus crave for level playing field in developmental and economic fields, jobs, progress and the mechanism of governance. They want equal opportunities and fulfillment of their aspirations, he said, adding that Jammuities respect sentiments of all the regions and sub-regions, he said, adding that ignoring the Jammu interest tantamount to insulting the self-respecting people. The time is not far when the people will make the exploiters, in different manifestations including those pretending to be the Messiahs of people, accountable for their sins committed against Jammu, he added.
The Provincial President said that fair-play in governance will help in strengthening trust between the people of different regions and sub regions, thus paving way for harmonious growth of this part of the country. Need for such a proposition is all the more important to preserve and sustain the idea of India in general and the idea of J&K in particular, known for unity in diversity, he maintained.
Rana congratulated Atri for his decision to join the National Conference, saying this is the only destination for public spirited people, who want to serve Jammu and Kashmir that is at the crossroads of history and recalled the contribution of his father who was a Minster of State in the Council of Ministers of Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah.
“Together, we will steer J&K to a new era of peace. Progress and development”, he said while urging the cadre to intensify public outreach. He said joining of well-meaning people will help further reinvigorating the National Conference at grass roots level.
Sr. National Conference Leader and Former Minister Surjeet Singh Slathia also welcomed Atri into the party fold and hoped that his joining will further strengthen the party.