Shadow Correspondent
Jammu, June, 29
District Congress Committee Jammu Urban on Tuesday held threadbare discussions over the organizational affairs and activities in J&K and vowed to continue to work for the development and wellbeing of the people. The meeting was chaired by Former Minister J&K Yogesh Sawhney, General Secretary PCC InCharge District Jammu (U) and presided over by Former Minister Raman Bhalla Vice President PCC. The district Congress leaders in the meeting expressed gratitude to the Senior Leadership of the party for the All-Party Meet with the Prime Minister where the Congress raised major demands for Jammu and Kashmir. In line with this, it was also discussed that the Congress party will observe various programmes in the coming days from July 7 to July 17 to raise these and other pertinent issues. A Massive Rally, Cycle Rally and Signature Campaign against surging prices of petrol and diesel. The meeting further discussed and heavily condemned the recent killings in Srinagar and drone attacks in Jammu and their deep implications on public security.
In the meeting, the district Congress leaders deeply appreciated the senior leadership of the party for their decision to hold meetings with Congress leaders in J&K before the All-Party Meet with the Prime Minister over the future of Jammu and Kashmir to take inputs from the representation on the fine points of what issues will be raised in the meeting. The Congress party had held three detailed meetings before attending the All-Party Meet — first, a meeting of PCC Leaders was held to evaluate the situation, second, a Virtual Meeting with Madam AICC Incharge for J&K Smt Rajni Patil and Former CM of J&K Ghulam Nabi Azad, followed by a third meeting which was virtually held for the Core Group of leaders of J&K, chaired by Congress President Smt. Sonia Gandhi.
Speaking in the meeting, Raman Bhalla outlined multiple challenges that Jammu Kashmir faces currently which require government intervention and action. Jammu and Kashmir is going through a very critical time in many aspects and only actions, not words, can bring some relief. He stated that rising prices of important commodities is a burning issue but what is equally troubling, if not more, is the issue of law and order. The recent drone attacks on Jammu, killings in Srinagar and other militancy incidents are highly condemnable and raise serious concerns over our security systems and management by the government. He said that the government needs to discuss and outline their defence policies for Jammu and Kashmir. And it is a attack on the country which is why the country needs a pro active retaliation policy so such horrendous incidents are not repeated. People are highly disturbed and feel extremely threatened. Such threats must be taken seriously and some sort of defence strategy must be implemented soon.
He added that a high level probe is needed in the matter. Jammu and Kashmir cannot be treated as an experimental state where everything and anything can be done. Such incidents are exploiting the already worsening situation of the UT. He further highlighted the condemnable situation of water and power supply in Jammu city. He said that this acute crisis of water and power during such hot summers needs to be addressed immediately by the concerned authorities. People need a leadership and governance who is privy to the ground realities and demands of the people. For the last seven years under BJP various promises have gone unfulfilled. Amarnath Yatra which should have been allowed to continue is causing harm to many small sections of the society, from hotel industry, to transportation and accomodation, vendors, Shopkeepers, who have made huge investments are at a loss. Issues are mounting day by day and there is no question that Jammu and Kashmir needs better governance. He said directionless BJP Govt failed to bring cheers to the common people especially the youth, students, the farmers and the labour class who suffered a lot due to worst economic slowdown and the covid situation.
He further said there are no effort to boost the rural economy and create job opportunities in the wake of large scale unemployment and retrenchments in the recent years due to wrong economic policies of BJP government coupled with covid situation.
Also addressing the meeting, Sawhney said that after the all Party Meet where the Congress party has meticulously explained it’s stand, the ball is in the government’s court. Now, it is upto the government to take actions, he said. He expressed gratitude to Smt. Sonia Gandhi Ji Congress party President on behalf of the District Congress Committee Jammu (Urban) saying that under her guidance the Party High Command and senior leadership of the party presented a well drafted presentation in the All-Party Meet with the Prime Minister and proposed a comprehensive plan raising major and genuine demands for Jammu and Kashmir. They demanded Statehood for J&K, sought land and job rights for residents, sought rights for Kashmiri Pandits, among important demands. He further questioned why the BJP leadership had kept no point in the All Party Meet regarding J&K. General Secretary JKPCC Sawhney claimed that with each passing day it’s becoming clear that BJP leaders from Jammu region have not been able to give a proper feedback to the policy makers sitting in New Delhi. It seems that the leaders of J&K BJP have made their national leaders believe that all is well in Jammu and there is nothing to worry about. They seem to have created a notion that whenever the Assembly elections are held in the newly carved out Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir BJP would emerge victorious and the first Chief Minister of the J&K UT will be from their party,” he added. The Congress Party was the only party in the All-Party Meet that had done its due homework and raised meticulous and robust demands which became the agenda of the meeting.
He also condemned the untoward incidents of killings in Srinagar and militant activities in the valley endangering public security. The direct rule of the government has not had any impact in terms of improvement or development, which is why statehood must be restored. Violence has not abated, terrorist strikes continue, as does the security forces’ heavy-handed response. More alarmingly, the recruitment of locals into the militancy continues apace. Terror incidents, he said, are fuelling fears and speculations among the public and the government needs to initiate a high level probe into the matter. Furthermore Sawhney also discussed with district Congress leaders that various programmes will be held as per AICC’s directives in Jammu to oppose price hike of petrol, diesel and essential commodities such as edible oil, daal etc. From July 7 to July 17, DCC will conduct varied programmes and events to highlight these matters. This will take place in the form of protests and demonstrations by the District Congress committee team with district leaders, ward presidents and other members. A Massive Rally, Cycle Rally and Signature Campaign against surging prices of petrol and diesel and other issues will be conducted to attain these objectives.
Along with Raman Bhalla and Yogesh Sawhney other leader present at the meeting was Dr. Ramakant Khajuria, Pawan Dev Singh, Uttam Singh, Rajesh Sharma, Vijay Singh Chib, Chander Shekhar Sharma, Vijay Sharma, Pawan Sharma, Mandeep Singh, Jatinder Singh Chib, Pawan Bhagat, Sdr. Baldev Singh, Rakesh Sharma, Jugal Sharma and Anirudh Sawhney.
