Jammu, Oct 30 (PTI) Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary on Friday accused a local BJP MLA of playing politics over a road project, questioning his absence from the foundation stone-laying ceremony and alleging that he had prevented MPs from attending the event.
Expressing displeasure over the absence of BJP MLA Narinder Singh from the inauguration of the Kulian road project, Choudhary said he was attending the programme in his official capacity as Deputy Chief Minister and not as a National Conference worker.
"I am hurt that after I provided crores of rupees for this project, politics is being played over it. Does a Deputy Chief Minister not have the right to lay the foundation stone of the Kulian road?
"The local MLA should have invited me. He could have come here and sought more funds from me. I am part of the government," he told reporters after laying the foundation stone of the project.
Choudhary said the elected representative of the area had a greater responsibility to coordinate with him than party workers, adding that development works should not be turned into political controversies.
"Today, I am standing here as the Deputy Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir and as part of the government, not as a National Conference worker. The MLA of this area, being an elected representative, has an equal, if not greater, responsibility to coordinate with me," he said.
Targeting BJP MLA Narendra Singh, Choudhary questioned why he was absent despite being informed about the programme and alleged that he had also prevented Members of Parliament from attending the event.
"Those who talk about protocol should explain why the MLA was not present when the Deputy Chief Minister was here. I have also been told that he stopped the honourable MPs from attending the programme. Is this politics?" he asked.
He said development was a collective responsibility of all political representatives and workers, irrespective of their party affiliations, adding that National Conference, Congress and other coalition representatives had an equal stake in the development of the area.
Choudhary also said he had inspected the ongoing work on the Bhalol bridge before reaching the area and directed officials and the contractor to complete the project by March 31.
"I was told that the bridge would be completed in October, but I have made it clear that I want it completed by March 31. With the blessings of Mata Vaishno Devi, I will ensure that the Bhalol bridge on highway is completed by that date," he said.
Assuring residents of the quality of the ongoing Kulian road project, he warned that strict action would be taken against contractors and officials if substandard work or negligence was found.
He also raised concerns over the quality of road widening work from Simbal to Kulian, alleging deficiencies in the construction of dividers and the use of substandard material.
"I noticed a considerable difference in the quality of the road work. Some of the dividers are already damaged, and the material used appears to be substandard. The widening has also not been carried out to the required extent. I will order an inquiry and summon the concerned officials," he said.
Appealing to local residents and the media to monitor the quality of development works, Choudhary urged them to bring any complaints regarding irregularities to his notice.
"Whether it is a contractor or an officer, nobody will be spared if poor-quality work or negligence is established," he said.
He alleged that instead of raising issues concerning development and the quality of work, the BJP was targeting him politically, asserting that his commitment was towards the development of the Jammu region.
