Shadow Correspondent
Jammu, 14 July:
JKPCC Working President Raman Bhalla on Sunday denounced the Centre’s move to widen the scope of Jammu and Kashmir lieutenant governor’s (LG) powers on key administrative and legal matters — ranging from police and public order to postings and prosecution sanction — saying that the step will render the chief minister “powerless” and “disempower” the region’s people. This was stated by former Minister while addressing prominent persons of Jallochak, Ward-68 Greater Kailash in RS Pura Jammu South constituency. Prominent among those present on the occasion include former Minister Yash Paul Kundal, Ex MLA Durga Das, General Secretary JKPCC Satish Sharma, Sarpanch Shmsher Singh , Block President Sanjeev Katal ,Budhi Singh, Sham Lal, Garu Sngral, Happy Randhawa, Rakesh Chopada, Gandeep besides others.
Speaking on the occasion, Bhalla said the move indicated that elections were “around the corner”, adding that “a firm commitment laying out the timeline” for restoration of J&K’s statehood was a prerequisite for the polls. “The people of J&K deserve better than powerless, rubber stamp CM who will have to beg the LG to get his/her peon appointed,” he said. He said the move will convert the J&K assembly into a municipality. “Bhalla accused the central government of continuing to “betray J&K”. Govt wants to delay the restoration of full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, even though the Supreme Court has mandated Assembly Elections by Sept 30th, 2024. Even if full statehood is restored, it wants to keep the newly elected State Govt at the mercy of the LG, by clamping its executive power,” he said. Bhalla said that BJP is facing unprecedented public resentment across J&K for its alleged anti people policies but consistently remains in denial mode to address public issues on priority.
Bhalla attacked BJP for its anti-poor, anti-middle class policies. He said “the ruling dispensation has not been able to live up to its promises of providing employment to youth, handholding of artisans and much awaited relief to the poor and downtrodden sections of society”. To cover up their failures further, BJP is shying away from elections as the clouds of worry have surrounded them . Life and livelihood of those living on the edge of poverty is not changing for the better”, he said and added “amidst untamed inflation and unemployment, the withdrawal of food schemes only added to the daily woes of people”. Bhalla said “how will BJP face people from whose plates it has snatched food? How can a government that has unleashed tax terrorism on people face them? Our middle class, BPL and other marginalized communities are particularly at the receiving end”, he added.
The former Minister said, “Congress is committed to uplift the poor and downtrodden sections of the society”, he said. Bhalla alleged that J&K has witnessed huge setbacks due to the revocation of statehood by the BJP government including seizing of jobs, land, and the suppression of political and civil rights.JKPCC Working President also castigated the Centre for remaining busy in rhetoric rather than doing work on ground.He said that the situation on ground zero in J&K is contrary to the claims of the BJP leadership over colossal development and lasting peace.
Bhalla said the only aim of BJP is to acquire power by politicizing different issues and the party does not have any motive to work for the people.He said people want change, as the BJP has failed on all fronts of governance especially unchecked price rise, record unemployment besides other anti-employees, anti-trade, anti-poor politics in J&K.
“The people of Jammu and Kashmir have only one option to fight this monster of hate and discrimination, that option is the Indian National Congress, the only party which hasn’t and which will never cozy with BJP,” Bhalla said. “Having failed to give employment to highest number of educated unemployed youth, the Centre and UT Administration is beating about bushes and finding faults in the past Govts”, he added. Bhalla alleged that decisions taken by the Centre has always deprived the poor people of their rights, he said that the leaders of state BJP never fight for ensuring the rights of poor people of J&K. People of the J&K are aware of this and have shown their power to party in Parliament elections. The people of J&K will continue to reject the BJP in future for its anti-people policies; he added reiterating his demand for restoration of statehood. They know the people are angry with its policies and they have already got a taste of it . The electorate of J&K is waiting for an opportunity to take this government to task for its misdeeds, the Congress leader said.However, Bhalla said, “I want to tell them that the voters of J&K are politically mature and cannot be misled by false slogans and promises.
They know their well-wishers and whom to vote for.The people are facing the brunt of the huge taxes as the Modi government is passing on the burden to the common people, he said.
Former Minister Yashpal Kundal said that the BJP has pushed the Jammu and Kashmir into unprecedented political uncertainty by indulging in politics of hate. BJP ever since getting access to power in Delhi had been on a rampage of dispossessing and disempowering common people of Jammu and Kashmir.
It’s not about a particular community or a sect, they have went berserk against all of us collectively. We have been used as political cannon fodders by BJP all across the country”, Kundal said. “Democracy is in our veins, it is in our culture’; ‘India is the mother of democracy’; ‘India is the temple of democracy’. Great sounding words that the international community lap up & regurgitate ad-nauseam. Meanwhile J&K has already completed 6 years under central rule. Democracy ends where J&K begins,” he said. “Entire nation & its leadership must hang their heads in shame for calling itself ‘Mother of Democracy’. J&K languishes under central rule for a staggering 5 years, with the last election held 10 years ago. The blatant disregard for people’s rights & representation is appalling,” Sawhney said.
Ex MLA Durga Das lambasting the BJP-controlled J&K government for playing with the future of J&K people, said “We will not remain a mute spectator to such anti-people decision of the government”, he warned and promised that party workers will strongly oppose such actions on the streets. He took a swipe at the BJP-led government at the Centre over inflation saying it is skyrocketing due to anti-people policies.Taking a jibe at the government, he said prices of all essential commodities including vegetables, flour, rice, pulses are increasing continuously. The plate has become costlier by 28 per cent in 1.5 months.”The public has also now understood that this government’s entire focus is only on saving the image of the Prime Minister and benefiting its capitalist friends,” he added.
