Shadow Correspondent
Jammu, MAY 30:
The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference Provincial President Jammu Rattan Lal Gupta today strongly criticized certain local BJP leaders for indulging in political blackmail and creating unnecessary confrontation against the democratically elected Government in Jammu and Kashmir merely to satisfy their hunger for power.
Addressing a One Day Convention of District Presidents and Party functionaries of SC Cell at Sher-e- Kashmir Bhavan Jammu today which was organized by Vijay Lochan Chairman SC Cell who highlighted the Scheduled Caste demands and problems of their respective areas. Rattan Lal Gupta said that the people of J&K have given a clear and decisive mandate in favour of the present elected Government, and any attempt to undermine, destabilize or weaken this mandate amounts to disrespecting the democratic will of the people.
He asserted that instead of working for the welfare and development of the masses, some BJP leaders are busy conspiring to create political uncertainty and confusion in the Union Territory.
Rattan Lal Gupta said that these power-hungry elements are trying to please their political bosses in New Delhi by continuously targeting the elected Government and creating hurdles in governance.
Such actions are not only undemocratic but also harmful to the interests of the people who voted in large numbers with hopes of peace, development and restoration of democratic rights.
He reminded the BJP leadership that democracy survives only when the mandate of the people is respected.
The people of Jammu and Kashmir have suffered enough due to political uncertainty, bureaucratic control and denial of full democratic rights. Any attempt to weaken the authority of the elected Government will further alienate the masses and damage democratic institutions.
He urged the Centre Government to respect the verdict of the people and cooperate fully with the elected Government instead of encouraging confrontation through politically motivated elements.
The repeated promises regarding restoration of Statehood must also be fulfilled without further delay, as the people of J&K deserve a full-fledged democratic system as assured by the country’s leadership on several occasions.
Rattan Lal Gupta said that Jammu and Kashmir needs development, employment generation, infrastructure growth and effective governance, not political games aimed at grabbing power through the backdoor. He warned that any effort to subvert the people’s mandate for narrow political interests would be strongly opposed by democratic forces.
He appealed to all political parties to rise above partisan considerations and work collectively for safeguarding democracy, strengthening institutions and protecting the rights and aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
Addressing the Convention Sheikh Bashir Ahmad Provincial Secretary Jammu and Vijay Lochan Chairman SC Cell they emphasized that the Omar Led Government remains firmly committed to the welafe and upliftment of the downtrodden, marginalized and economically weaker sections across Jammu and Kashmir. They said that the government is focused on ensuring inclusive development and equitable distribution of resources so that the benefits of governance reach every section of society, particularly those who have remained neglected for years.
