Shadow Correspondent
Jammu, Apr, 04:
Former Minister and Congress candidate from Jammu-Poonch Parliamentary seat, Raman Bhalla today said that the treachery and deceit of the BJP is haunting Jammu people who reposed their unflinching faith and support to it with the hope that Jammu may perhaps get a better deal as during the days of its wilderness in the opposition, the BJP leaders were crying hoarse over discrimination and neglect. He made a particular mention of the BJP and dared to list their achievements with regard to fulfilling the developmental needs of the Jammu region.
”Despite being in power at the Centre and in the State the party failed miserably on governance front and let down Jammu on all fronts”, he said, adding that the BJP has nothing to showcase as its achievement, least to fulfilling liberal promises during elections.
This was observed by Bhalla while addressing series of election meetings at Chinore, Bantalab in Domana constituency ,earlier Truck Union ,Railway Station Jammu extended and promised their full support to Bhalla Prominent among those who accompanied Bhalla include Ex-MLA Mula Ram, Rural President Hari Singh Chib, Th.Dharamveer Singh, Nasir Ahmed Manmohan Singh Khalsa, Kamaljeet Singh, Subhash, Capt.Chain Singh, Jang Bahadur, Block Presidents, Ward Presidents, Sarpanches, Panches, Voters, Workers and supporters in large number.He slammed BJP for putting Jammu’s interests and development subservient to the pleasure of PDP for remaining glued to power. The former Minister said the partnership of the alliance parties and cohesion as a result of which people of the state in general and the Jammu region in particular were suffering on account of development. He charged the BJP for reversing some of the prestigious projects launched during the tenure of Congress for putting the Jammu region on equal pedestal of development. “Hunger for power has taken toll of the opportunistic alliance, which was overtly and covertly working towards weakening the very idea of Jammu and Kashmir”, Bhalla said.An inhuman atmosphere was being generated and mistrust created by bringing the people and the regions eyeball to eyeball situation over various sensitive issues”, he said and referred to the controversies raked up by coalition Govt. “We decry the politics of hate and divide, he said while cautioning the people against divisive politics being played by the coalition partners which has already alienated Kashmir from the mainstream.
He said the state is passing through most difficult times and if the situation is not handled with political far-sight and sagacity, the consequences could be grave not only for Jammu and Kashmir but entire country. Former Minister said that while the insensitive coalition failed in assuaging urges and aspirations of the people on political front, its record in governance is quite dismal.
“In such a grim scenario, the role of Congress as a public movement, representing the urges and aspirations of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh becomes more pronounced”, Bhalla said and urged the cadre to realize their crucial responsibilities.
He said Congress cannot afford to be a fence sitter when the state remains standing at the cross-roads of its history where the secular credentials, nurtured by Congress, are at stake in the wake of elements inimical to amity and tranquility taking center-stage.
He made a passionate appeal to the people to maintain vigil against the elements inimical to the inclusiveness of the State.
Bhalla said deceptive politics and disruptive posturing of the PDP-BJP has cost the state dearly, not only in terms of gap between the people widening but also performance of the administration taking nose dive due to lack of political direction. The former minister assailed the PDP-BJP Government for contemptuously ignoring peoples’ aspirations and taking vicarious pleasure in their accumulating woes. “It was a dispensation of sorts, which itself rejected the first spell of misgovernance as abject failure and instead of learning lessons continues to be nonchalant in the present spell as well”, he said, adding that the coalition did not show any sign of grit and determination to solve peoples’ problems. Bhalla expressed concern over the failure of the coalition on all fronts, saying lack of coordination between various components of the government is detrimental to the overall interests of the sensitive state. Referring to disenchantment and dejection among people over disruption in peace and development, Bhalla said the efforts of the Congress government during six years on putting the state on the path of progress and normalcy have been undone by the present insensitive and anti-people coalition. “The people had been breathing in an atmosphere of peace and reaping benefits of development”, he said, adding that the scenario is quite alarming now.He condemned BJP for its Machiavellian politics and ideological retreat on several issues. He said in its desperation to become a junior partner in the PDP-led government, BJP has not only sacrificed its age old ideology and solemn pledges but indulged in the most deceptive and obnoxious deal by bartering away the interests and aspirations of Jammu region. He said all poll promises of BJP like empowerment of Jammu, delimitation of assembly constituencies and end of discrimination against Jammu region fell flat.
He said that Congress Party stands guarantee to the equitable development of all the three regions and the people. It will continue to serve the people to the best of its ability. It would continue to remain steadfast in serving the people. He said the exploitative politics may create euphoria for some time but ultimately the people want better services and their developmental needs fulfilled. These are the areas where the government was finding itself hugely wanting, he observed. While Jammu region as a whole has suffered unexampled bias in multifarious fields after the formation of BJP rule in the form of their near obliteration in various selection lists issued during the past two and half years.Bhalla regretted that contrary to people’s expectations, the BJP leaders surrendered even the marginal share of Jammu region in recruitments so as to keep their alliance partner in good humour and thereby keep their role of Junior partner in the government intact.
