Shadow Correspondent
Jammu, Feb, 14
Former Minister and senior Congress leader Raman Bhalla on Sunday sought redress of grievances of the people saying that the government had failed to ensure basic facilities to the people. Addressing a public gathering of aggrieved people of Nai Basti area, former Minister said that the government should lay emphasis on required facilities to the people on a priority. People are living a difficult life and want an end to their miseries,” he said. Prominent among those present on the occasion include Block President Satish Sharma, Block President Yudvir Singh, Block President Surinder Singh Dutt, Suresh Sharma, Vijay Choudhary, Kewal Mahajan, Sandeep Dogra, Sham Lal Ch., Parshotam Singh, Master Ashwani, Gurpreet Dogra, Surinder Sodhi, Ashwani Kumar, Sonu Choudhary, Sunny Mehra, Rishu Jangi, Sarinder Singh Babbu, Madam Asha Sharma, Ashwani Honda, Vinay Sharma Kaka, Naresh, Sunny Kumar, Mohinder Bhagat, Kewal Kumar, Ashish, Madam Sukhla, Kulbushan Slathia, Narinder Sharma Babba, Ajay Kumar Dogra, Parveen Metha, Suresh Sharma, Prem Dogra beside others.He said that Congress feels duty-bound to work for the wellbeing of the people. “Congress is an instrument of service to the people and will continue to remain at the forefront to highlight the genuine needs concerning the people for their resolution,” he said. Referring to the current situation, he said, “The situation in the country is different now as the democratic institutions are under the threat. The saner voices are being muzzled by the BJP and its offshoots, which is a matter of serious concern.”
Former Minister further said that it is the duty of every right-thinking person to raise his or her voice against these undemocratic policies to ensure that there is no damage to the very foundations of the country,” he said. “Congress has strengthened the democratic set up of the country and it will continue to work in that direction despite the coercion and other pressure tactics by the ruling BJP. Urging the Government of India to start the developmental process in J&K, he said it had come to a standstill since BJP assumed power at New Delhi.“Mere claims and running paper horses with regard to the wellbeing of the people and development of J&K won’t serve any purpose,” he said. “There is a need to address the developmental issues, rising unemployment and other major issues concerning the people.”
“Six years ago, people believed you. Now, they see through your lies. Your silence is also an answer which the nation has heard and rejected. But this anger has now been channelized,” Bhalla said. The BJP is spreading falsehood about the Congress across the nation. But the truth is now making its way out and people can see through their lies.The ruling party is vitiating the political atmosphere and even harming the broader national interest by dubbing the political rivals including Congress, as anti-nationals for petty political gains, which is cheapest political tactics,” Bhalla said. Congress has a history of struggle and sacrifices for the nation. The cheap political tactics of the ruling party for mere electoral gains is hurting the nationalist sentiments,” he said.He appealed people to see through the “political opportunism” of the BJP and its mastery to “hoodwink people during elections by deceit and then betray their faith”.
Bhalla said that his party was desirous of real empowerment of the people in Jammu and Kashmir through the restoration of statehood. He said that turning J&K state into a union territory had completely disempowered its people. “The political philosophy that formed the edifice of the Congress Party’s agenda encompasses the true empowerment of the people through restoration of statehood and legal safeguards for their land and jobs,” he said. Bhalla said that the political empowerment of the people goes through the route of socio-economic development.“
To address the alienation among the people, statehood should be restored to J&K with dignity and honour. Congress is committed to strive for this goal along with the domicile laws for protection of land and jobs,” he said. He exhorted on the need for strengthening of democratic set-up in Jammu and Kashmir, particularly at the grassroots level and underlined the significance of a much-needed change in the approach of governance that could be brought in, after the successful completion of the ongoing DDC polls.
He said BJP Govt failed to usher era of quality education, better healthcare infrastructure, better roads, smooth supply of drinking water and electricity and augmentation of tourism infrastructure across the J&K,” he said.
Former Minister maintained that time has changed and BJP should understand that they can no more hoodwink the people through their hollow and deceptive slogans,” he said. He said that present dispensation is turning a blind eye towards the apprehensions and concerns of people of the State, especially Jammu region.
