College row fuels up more criticism
Shariq Majeed
Tribune News Service

Sunderbani (Rajouri), December 28
The state government's December 14 announcement of 18 new colleges at “selective places” has been drawing much criticism from the residents and political parties in Sunderbani.

Planning an agitation against the government, the town residents accused the local Congress MLA, who is also minister in the Congress-led coalition government, of being biased against the people. Even though, this town falls in his constituency, the minister silently convinced the government for allotting college at his native place in Nowshehra, alleged the people.

And causing more embarrassment to the Congress, its local leaders are planning to join the agitation against the state government for succumbing to the pressure from the local Congress MLA and minister of state for industries and commerce Romesh Sharma for setting up college at Nowshehra.

The Congress party, the locals said, would have to face severe criticism from all the political parties here, if the state government set up college in Nowshehra, the home town of the minister.

Besides, according to sources, local leaders of various political parties including Beopar Mandal under the aegis of Joint Action Committee are planning an agitation for getting a college for this township.

Confirming that the JAC is planning an agitation for getting college here, member, Joint Action Committee (JAC) and vice-president, Sunderbani Muncipal Committee, Joginder Gupta said this has been long pending demand of the people of this border township and they would not shy away for giving our lives for getting the same.

“We are demanding college for the last thirty years. Now that state government has announced the creation of 18 new colleges, we deserve the same.” “Kalakote tehsil is 32 kilometres from here whereas from Nowshehra (MLA Sahab's home town) Kakote is 40 kms, even Bhamla (the last town from Akhnoor) is just eight kms from here,” he said.

“There are places like Devak and Chauki Chowra which are located near here. So this justifies the fact that setting up of college here will benefit the people of neighbouring places and even far off places.”

Senior Congress leader on the condition of anonymity said local MLA should desist from playing with the people of Sunderbani and instead should help in setting up of college here.

“In spite of making efforts to get college at his native place, local MLA should respect the feelings of this township and help them in getting college,” he said. “If he fails to do so, we will have no other option but to launch agitation.”

Justifying his efforts to get college at his native place of Nowshehra, MLA Romesh Sharma said college would be set up at Nowshehra.

“There are places like Peer Badeswar and Laam in my constituency which are far off. Its my duty to help the people of these places to get higher education to their children,” Sharma said.

“Even people of Sunderbani and Kalakote will benefit if the college is set up here since both the areas are very near.” Responding to the allegations of JAC of him being “biased” against people of Sunderbani, Sharma said, “For me people of Nowhshehra and Sunderbani, both are important. Let me assure people of Sunderbani that they will also get a college very soon. The government is taking up setting of more colleges with the Centre.”