Saroori conducts extensive tour of Bunjwah, urges ground-level public service and slams BJP for developmental neglect

BUNJWAH, (KISHTWAR): Senior Congress leader and former minister Ghulam Mohammad Saroori undertook a detailed one-day tour of Bunjwah block in Kishtwar district, during which he interacted with locals, listened to their grievances, and reviewed the development challenges of the region. The visit was part of his broader mission to strengthen the Congress party in the Chenab Valley through direct engagement with the people.

During his tour, Saroori expressed gratitude to the central Congress leadership for consistently raising the demand for the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood. He emphasized the importance of ground-level political engagement and public service over virtual activism. Saroori appealed to Congress workers to step out of the “reel world” of social media and remain physically present among the people, particularly in difficult times.

He cautioned party members against the use of abusive or derogatory language on any platform and called for maintaining decorum in political discourse. “Constructive criticism based on facts is healthy, but personal attacks for petty gains are a drama the public no longer entertains, Saroori remarked. He urged workers to stay alert to vested interests spreading misinformation and engaging in mudslinging for political mileage.

Speaking to the media, Saroori said that ever since rejoining the Congress party, he has been touring various parts of the Chenab region to reconnect with the grassroots cadre, listen to people’s problems, and raise their concerns with the appropriate authorities.

Reflecting on his tenure from 2014 to 2018, Saroori highlighted that numerous road projects were sanctioned and completed during that period due to his efforts. However, he lamented that all such development came to a standstill after 2018. “The roads are in such poor condition today that even patients cannot be transported to hospitals due to the lack of proper connectivity and transport,” he said. He further noted that many approved projects are delayed due to the negligence and failure of contractors.

Saroori expressed concern over the non-initiation of work on several vital roads, particularly the Patnazi to Surngana road and the Tanta to Devidol road, despite having received formal approvals. He also pointed out that while tourism has seen some growth in Chatroo, many potential tourist spots are still being ignored by the administration.

Strongly criticizing the BJP, Saroori accused the ruling party of making hollow promises and delivering nothing on the ground. “Bunjwah is close to my heart. The people of this region have always supported me in elections. I won three times with a clear majority. Even in the last election, I lost by just 270 votes — that’s not a defeat; it’s a sign that people are still with me,” he asserted. He questioned what the current MLA has accomplished in his one-year tenure, claiming that the incumbent has failed to deliver anything substantial. Saroori demanded that all essential government departments establish offices at the Tehsil Headquarters in Bunjwah to make services easily accessible to the local population.

In conclusion, Saroori reminded the public of the extensive developmental works carried out during his tenure as a Cabinet Minister and MLA from Inderwal. In contrast, he said, the BJP has done nothing since 2014. He reiterated his call for party workers to engage actively on the ground and work selflessly for the welfare of the people, rather than remaining confined to social media platforms.