Shadow Correspondent
Jammu, May, 23
The primary objective of the INDIA alliance is to fight collectively and defeat the BJP in order to save the nation, the Constitution, democracy, secularism, and federalism. The country is in multiple crises, and the country has to be liberated from the clutches of the BJP. That is the primary objective of the opposition coming together. This was stated by JKPCC Working President and Congress contesting candidate from Jammu-Reasi parliamentary seat Raman Bhalla while interacting with prominent persons at Press Club Jammu today. Prominent among those present on the occasion include Rajesh Sadotra ,General Secretary JKPCC, Dwarka Choudhary ,Secretary JKPCC, Dewan Chand SC Cell President Jammu Province, Shamsher Chand AICC member, Balwinder Singh Rinku,Sat Sapolia ,Jugal Kishore, Neeraj Kumar, Banarsi Lal, Satnam Singh, DrTC Bhagat, Suman Choudhary, Rakesh Kundal, Sushma Choudhary,Kushwant Singh, Bushan Kumar, Jeet Raj ,S.Ghar Singh,S.Teja Singh and others.
Speaking on the occasion, Bhalla dismissed the BJP’s question on who will be the face of the INDIA alliance, saying that it is a desperate attempt to divert attention from their failures and misdeeds. He added that the opposition parties are mature enough to decide on their leadership collectively and that it is not an issue for them. PM Modi says it is the mother of democracy. And the mother of democracy means the children of the mother. Any child can become a PM. But the BJP is raising this question because it is desperate. It has no other issue to question the opposition parties on. And we know opposition parties are mature enough collectively to decide anything… So that is not an issue,” he said. The opposition INDIA bloc will defeat the NDA in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls and the upcoming assembly election in J&K, said Bhalla .
“It is evident that (the ruling) NDA is desperate as it faces upcoming defeat by the INDIA (alliance), which represents the aspirations of the 140 crore people of India,” Bhalla said.He also said “dictatorship and assault on parliamentary democracy” are unacceptable to the nation. He said the propaganda unleashed against the INDIA bloc will not change the reality or “hide the utter failures and anti-people policies of the NDA that are responsible for the extreme joblessness, loot of public money and the lust to empower some corporates linked to the NDA at the cost of the country’s and the public’s interest”.He said the people have been pushed towards darkness by the ruling dispensation at the Centre.They (people) want change, the INDIA alliance will ensure that change for betterment, prosperity and equal development of all Indians,” Bhalla added.
The grassroots’ feedback is that people are coming forward to fight this election and we are just helping them. So, BJP claim of “400-500 paar” is impossible. The PM is denting his image by telling such lies. People say high prices are hurting them. Youngsters who were till now tilted towards BJP are also complaining about joblessness. They are saying “if we don’t have the basics of survival, then what will we do?” And the weaker sections, Dalits, tribals, backwards are scared that a majority to BJP can result in a change of the Constitution and that even democracy may be under threat, added Bhalla. They have resolved to fight to bring the non-BJP parties to power to save democracy and the Constitution. People are voting with certain stubbornness on these two big issues.
During the UPA terms, Congress won 140-odd and 206 seats, but Manmohan Singh govt ran for 10 years, and we were successful in bringing good policies like MGNREGA, RTI, RTE, NFSA and Indo-US nuclear deal. If you consider this, do you really think we cannot run a govt for five years? This is a bogey Modi is raising, despite the opposition having proved it for 10 years. Bhalla lashed out at the BJP for ruining the youth and future generations of Jammu and Kashmir as people suffered a lot under Modi regime. He said that BJP promised a lot to each and every section but they are feel cheated and betrayed as our land, jobs, resources are being looted and future is unsafe. The youth, traders, workers, farmers and women are all restlessness and there is lot of joblessness.
Bhalla said that old age, widow, handicapped, daily wagers and others are all suffering under BJP regime. There was complete religious harmony in J&K but BJP wants to divide people on regional and religious lines and asked people to reject BJP to bring a better future. Bhalla said that Congress Party is an instrument of service to the people, which has remained dedicated to the cause of serving the people. The Congress Party is duty bound to address the urges and aspirations of the people, for the fact, it is the Congress Party alone which has always taken care of the urges and aspirations of the common man. Congress has been pioneer in implementing revolutionary programmes aimed at improving the conditions of the people, especially those living in remote and backward areas.
Bhalla said Congress party believes in strengthening the people and is committed to equitable development of the State. He described BJP dispensation as anti-poor, anti youth, anti kissan and due to its wrong policies the sufferings of the people increased manifold. The insensitive government pushed people to the wall, as unemployment has increased, prices have risen and developmental activities have suffered a lot. He claimed that BJP Government pushed back State in all sectors during last ten years. 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 alleged that the BJP’s “proxy” government has failed on all fronts in Jammu and Kashmir and claimed people are feeling betrayed by party. “The government in J&K, run by the administration led by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, has proved to be an utter failure on all fronts with common people were left to fend for themselves. The people crumbled due to multiple miseries under the proxy government of BJP in J&K,” Bhalla said. He said that the people of Jammu region, who were “promised the moon” by the BJP, today feel betrayed by party as it never proceeded beyond ‘jumlas’ creating merely false narratives to secure votes. He said even the BJP leaders know quite well that people of this region are waiting to teach them a lesson. He highlighted infrastructural gaps, inadequate social services, and economic disparities that have persisted over time. He stressed the necessity of tailored policies to address these specific challenges and ensure the holistic development of Jammu.
