Shadow Correspondent
Jammu Sept 29:-
Former Minister Raman Bhalla Friday claimed PDP-BJP coalition as a “complete failure”, saying the government proven to be a policy and governance “nightmare” for the state.”All self-marketed myths of both parties stood exposed as the PDP-BJP coalition government has turned out to be a complete failure that stood on an ever-mounting pyre of broken promises and U-turns. “From 2005 to 2014, both BJP and PDP propaganda machinery wanted us to believe that they were the only magical solution to all vexed political and economic problems that others had only tried to solve in right earnest. Today, these myths about them stand shattered, Bhalla added.”Not only have they broken every single political promise that they had made to garner votes, but their government has also proven to be a policy and governance nightmare for the state.He alleged that BJP used emotive slogans to exploit the sentiments of the people and “ditched them at the first sight of power”.”Their truck with PDP was unarguably the most opportunistic U-turn in the history of J&K and this proved to be the final nemesis of the party,” Bhalla said.
Terming Indian National Congress (INC) as a movement to establish a new system of justice and equality, former Minster and senior Congress leader Raman Bhalla Saturday claimed that his party has emerged as genuine and credible voice of the people of Jammu and Kashmir through its convictions and visionary policies. Addressing a function to welcome Independent candidate Kamal Kishore from Ward 23, Nai Basti who has withdrawn nomination in favour of Congress candidate Vijay Choudhary , Bhalla said that it was matter of satisfaction that Congress, has emerged as strong political force in the state as well as a credible voice of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.He maintained that Congress’s agenda of the peace and development was now again seen positively throughout state was welcomed as a serious state-wide political force with credibility and established credentials in governance and political acumen. “Though Congress has originated as an idea for restoration of dignity of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, the party has with inputs from various sections of opinion has evolved an agenda that it believes could lead to get the state and the region rid from the strife, bring a sense of achievement to its people and usher in a new era of sustainable peace and prosperity again which was started in the year 2006″, he said and added that overwhelming response to party from all regions of the State was a clear indication that people of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh were again looking towards Congress as only credible political force of the State.
Accusing the BJP of bartering away the pride and honor of people of Jammu region to satisfy its lust for power, he appealed Jammuites to oppose, expose and depose the BJP’s Juggernaut for its demagoguery and sheer opportunism.
Bhalla said BJP miserably failed to rake up any of its issues or at least initiate any discussion in respect of them thus meekly and pusillanimously surrendering to the whims of its highly powerful and dominant partner. Regretting the lame duck posturing of the BJP legislators virtually on all issues, Bhalla said that the people of Jammu region feel utterly cheated and betrayed for the failure of its legislators to represent and agitate their concerns. Bhalla said that people who want to contribute to the political discourse and development of the state must become part of the Congress’s growth story. The doors are open for the people who want to contribute in the party’s efforts to see the state out of the present mess,” he said. “Congress is committed for the people’s cause and will always uphold their aspirations and sentiments”, Bhalla said.
Coalition government miserably failed to live up to the expectations of the people. There was a strong resentment among the people against previous government as it has not fulfilled its promises made at the time of Assembly elections. There was anger among people. The PDP-BJP played with the sentiments of the people who voted them to power. People were not happy with their policies and the government proved to be a failure. Despite people hitting streets against governance deficit, lack of development and failure of the government to deliver on the promises made to the people of the Jammu and Kashmir, Govt did not move even an inch proving callousness of this anti-people Govt. Cautioning people against anti people policies being pursued by the PDP-BJP Government, former Minister said that peace and development have become biggest causality since this govt had taken over.
“While the PDP-BJP plunged the State into unprecedented crisis, the development had come to grinding halt and governance was at the lowest ebb”, Bhalla said. The former minister said due to wrong policies of the coalition dispensation the normal life in entire state was in jeopardy, especially as the government had lost will to govern. The lack of political direction terribly impacted the administration that was seen wanting in every sector. In this context, he referred to the administrative breakdown, developmental paralysis and poor condition of utility services in most parts of Jammu. This has made the life of people, particularly in the Jammu region miserable. Similar is the scenario with respect to rations, provision of agriculture inputs to farmers and lack of basic minimum necessities to the people, Bhalla said, adding that the people were disillusioned and disenchanted with the PDP-BJP government.
Bhalla decried diversionary tactics being adopted by both the coalition partners to cover up their failures. “They were more talking politics and less attending to the woes of the people that created a peculiar situation”, he said and referred to various contentious issues raked up by PDP and BJP to satiate their constituencies. He said there were inherent contradictions between the two on important matters of governance. While the people have been left to fend for themselves, the two parties were indulging in real politic to escape responsibility, he maintained. Bhalla said the impression of governance was nowhere to be felt and the sound foundations laid during the Congress led government between 2009 and 2014 negated and the people left to fend for themselves. As a consequence the state was suffering profusely; he said and added that there was no cohesion between the PDP and BJP on important matters of governance. He said the developmental tempo initiated and sustained by Congress government during six years came to a grinding halt and all tall claims and promises delivered before and after formation of the government proved to be hoax. Similarly, the people across the state were facing hardships on account of utility services like power and drinking water, with rations becoming scarce at the sale outlets, especially in remote and far flung areas.
