Shadow Correspondent
Jammu, Sept, 20
JKPCC Vice President and former Minister Rama Bhalla on Monday launched a scathing attack on the BJP dispensation for pushing Jammu and Kashmir to wall by creating a situation of drift, showing insensitivity towards peoples’ aspirations and forcing every section of society to follow path of confrontation, as a result of which J&K is in total chaos. This was observed by former Minister while interacting with aggrieved people of Gadi Garh area of Gandhi Nagar Constituency. Prominent among those present on the occasion include Amrit Bali Block President, Master Amrik Singh Ex Naib Sarpanch, S. Rajinder Singh, Retd SP Harjeet Singh, Devinder Singh Vishivnagrik, Pawan Bhagat, Gurbax Singh, Gurdev Singh, Bhopinder Singh, Balbir Singh Chamak, Charandeep Singh beside others.
Speaking on the occasion, Bhalla said that both the regions of Kashmir and Jammu are on boil because of the wrong policies of the govt, he said. Former Minister targeted the BJP, the self-styled Messiah of the Jammu region, and asked what it has delivered during the past seven years except making tall claims of imaginary development in J&K. The people had mandated the party for ‘Ache-Din’ and what they got in return is just a nightmare. The scenario on the development front is pathetic. “This is not what Jammu had aspired or visualized in wildest of its dreams”, he said. “How long will you hide under the umbrella of central leadership and get on with misadventures, which touched dangerous proportions during over seven years of misrule in J&K,” he asked and advised them to read “writing on the wall” and apologize to the people of Jammu for “ditching” them.
Bhalla termed the BJP leaders as dream sellers and referred to the total neglect of all sections of society. He said the BJP has mastered in whipping up passions and exploiting situations but when it comes to delivering, its leaders are just found wanting because of their total disconnect with people at grass root level.
Former Minister said the situation in the so-called stronghold of BJP is so precarious that its self-styled stalwarts are now finding their home turf quite hostile because of their non-performance and lies. “It is time for BJP to read writing on the wall and perform or perish, lest the people throw them out of the arena which they once called their stronghold”, Bhalla maintained.
Bhalla maintained that equipped with high degree of public good-will and robust booth level cadre Congress will emerge with flying colours and serve the people and steering J&K to peace, progress and development. Bhalla slammed the BJP for twisting the statistics, and said this spoke of its fear and frustration in the wake of imminent rejection by the people of Jammu & Kashmir. Jammu has suffered the most during the BJP’s ‘misrule’ and the electorate has firmed up resolve to teach the party a lesson by power of their votes for the betrayal,” he said, adding that fear of defeat had unnerved the BJP leadership, and that was why they were indulging in name calling and mudslinging.
Bhalla observed that political naivety and immaturity is hugely discernible in the BJP’s discourse,” he said, adding that this did not augur well for the democratic polity. Former Minister advised the BJP leadership to come of age and go for extensive introspection over the failures in a sensitive Jammu and Kashmir, where it failed miserably in feeling the pulse of the people and assuaging their economic, developmental and political aspirations. He said the BJP leaders had exposed themselves in J&K, which cost the people hugely and pushed it to uncertainty and instability.
Bhalla castigated the BJP for “hoodwinking public opinion” by generating euphoria over the issue of Chief Minister from Jammu.He said, the BJP has insulted the Jammu psyche. He accused the BJP of undermining the understanding and political sagacity of the people of Jammu.Will the BJP say how many educated unemployed youth were provided jobs in their tenure; what happened to Smart City project; why implementation of Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana could not take off; why Artificial Lake Project and Tawi River Front Project on the pattern of so-called Sabarmati Project did not materialise; why the party failed to regularise the daily wagers and others despite a blueprint drawn by the previous Congress government?” Bhalla fired a volley of questions.He also asked as to why the BJP governments at the Centre and in J&K reduced the one-time settlement of POK refugees to a paltry Rs 5 lakh per family instead of the recommended Rs 25 lakh per family by the Congress government.
Bhalla extended full support to Chamber of Commerce and Industry call for a ‘Jammu Bandh’ on September 22 to protest against the government’s “anti-traders” policy.He said that the move is aimed at pressurizing the UT administration to stop torturing the Jammu traders.The Jammu and Kashmir administration is finding one way or other to harass the business community here. First, they sold mines to outsiders in the name of reforms, while the condition of wine traders and bar owners are in public domain,” he said, adding that investment of thousand cores has gone to vain due to these anti-Jammu policies which also adds to unemployment. Bhalla said that the administration is now planning to come up with Reliance Marts, which will affect the livelihood of thousands of small Karinya merchants, shoe vendors, medicine agencies, and people associated with furnishing and glossary stores.
