BANI: Union Minister and BJP Candidate for Udhampur Lok Sabha constituency Dr Jitendra Singh said here today that UPA government sabotaged national level projects Shahpur-Kandi and Ujh Multi Purpose in district Kathua just to appease their vote bank at the cost of the interest of the important districts like Kathua and Doda and also at the risk of compromising national interests by allowing India’s share of water of River Ravi to flow into Pakistan. In a series of public meetings in upper hilly reaches of Bani and Billawar in district Kathua here today, Dr Jitendra Singh said, the most unfortunate part is that for 10 years during UPA rule, this region was represented by Congress MLAs and MPs, who did not raise their voice for the interest of the constituency represented by them respectively because they were more keen to keep their Kashmir-centric masters in good humour. Dr Jitendra Singh said that some day some historians and analysts will try to find an answer to this question as to why the Congress run governments at the Centre and the erstwhile State of Jammu & Kashmir connived together to keep these two national projects on hold and to allow India’s share of river water to flow into Pakistan. Dr Jitendra Singh recalled that as per the Indus Water Treaty 1960, which was accomplished by the Congress government led by Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru, it was decided that three rivers of Satluj, Beas and Ravi will be part of India’s share of water, Ravi being the largest river. But the successive Congress governments including the UPA did not follow the commitment made by their own leader Nehru and the Congress leaders from this region also did not raise their voice. It was only when Prime Minister Narendra Modi took over, he said, that this project was revived after nearly 30 years and now Shahpur-kandi project is almost fully functional whereas the Ujh project is going to start soon which was also announced by Jal Shakti Minister Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat during his address at Kathua rally on 21st of March. Vote for Modi and for the NDA government is also essential, said Dr Jitendra Singh, to avoid the repetition of the era of appeasement and regional discrimination which the entire belt of Kathua and Billawar had to suffer for six decades. Appealing for a vote for 400 plus for Modi and the BJP, Dr Jitendra Singh said, whatever might the Congress leaders say outwardly, in their heart of hearts they are aware of the fact that even their workers and relatives are going to vote only and only for Modi. Senior BJP leader Satish Sharma, BJP Hill District President Darshan Singh, BJYM President Udit Sharma, DDC members and PRIs, among others, accompanied Dr Jitendra Singh during the tour.
