Dy CM Surinder Choudhary, Minister Sakeena Itoo lay foundation stone of Rest House at DH Pora, Kulgam

Kulgam: Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary, along with Minister for Social Welfare, Education, Higher Education and Health, Sakeena Itoo, on Thursday laid the foundation stone of a Rest House (Dak Bungalow) at Damhal Hanjipora in south Kashmir’s Kulgam district. The facility, to be constructed at an estimated cost of ₹2.94 crore, will serve administrative needs and provide accommodation for officials, besides benefitting the local population.

Addressing a large gathering after the foundation-laying ceremony, the Deputy Chief Minister said the Omar Abdullah–led government is committed to upgrading infrastructure in every sector. He directed the engineering wing to ensure quality standards and timely completion of the project, adding that better amenities at the grassroots are essential for improved service delivery.

Choudhary said the government’s priority is holistic development across Jammu and Kashmir, with a focus on creating job opportunities for youth, expanding connectivity and ensuring transparency in governance. He stressed that restoring the dignity and status of J&K was the “biggest issue” before the people. Launching a scathing attack on PDP leader Iltija Mufti over her meeting with Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, he alleged that PDP bore responsibility for the abrogation of Article 370. “If she really supports J&K, she should approach Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who is elected by the people, not nominated,” he remarked. Taking a further dig, he said, “Besides regularising daily wagers, the LG also needs to be regularised as his tenure has already ended.”

Speaking to the media on the sidelines of the event, Sakeena Itoo said that the establishment of the Rest House would add to the development profile of DH Pora. She noted that under Omar Abdullah’s leadership, several pending projects have been restarted and new ones sanctioned, particularly in the health sector, to benefit the public at large.

She also launched an attack on People’s Conference leader Sajjad Lone, accusing him of “arming Kashmiri youth and sending them across the border for training during the militancy years,” which she said was responsible for filling local graveyards.

The ceremony was attended by senior officers of the district administration and a large number of locals, who welcomed the project as a step towards better facilities and improved governance in south Kashmir.