Shadow Correspondent
Jammu, Feb, 03
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 Sunday claimed that his party is genuine and credible voice of the people of Jammu and Kashmir through its convictions and visionary policies. Addressing public gathering at Gangyal Ward 56 area of Gandhi Nagar constituency, 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.
The meeting was organized by Satish Sharma , PCC Member and Block President. prominent among those present on the occasion include corporate responsibility Pritam Singh, Anti Corruption and Anti Crime and RTI Activist Chairman Vijaydeep Sharma, President Rohit Vashisht, Maximum Time Chief Editor Member Dhruv Singh, Ashwinder Singh, Gautam Sharma, Baldev Singh Wazir, Om Prakash Sharma, Dr Badyal, Simranjeet Singh, Baldev Singh Khalsa, Pinky Sudan, Kuldeep Singh, Yograj Thapa, Darshan Lal, Angrej Singh, and other permanent citizens of the area. 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.
Bhalla 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.
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 that 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 pursued by the previous PDP-BJP Government, former Minister said that peace and development had become biggest causality since this govt had taken over. Bhalla said that disillusion meted out to people with the PDP-BJP government was growing, as governance was at the lowest depth and development had taken nose dive in the past over three years.”People were realising the futility of electing a government that was not only insensitive towards their problems but also responsible in adding to these on every front”, he said. He said Congress is the only destination for those who want peace to sustain and development to remain focused agenda of the government in the state. He said the initiatives taken in this regard by Congress governments especially the previous one has been negated by the anti-people dispensation.
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. Bhalla claimed that Congress is wedded to peoples welfare and will continue to strive tirelessly to better their lives and towards achieving the goal of peace, prosperity, communal harmony and friendship in J&K state. Holding previous BJP and PDP government responsible for all miseries in Jammu and Kashmir, Bhalla accused previous state government responsible of weakening democratic institutions in the state of Jammu and Kashmir due to which the people have lost interest in such institutions. Bhalla accused both BJP-PDP of demolishing peace of the state by exploiting the regional, religious and political sentiments of the people . However, both these parties took complete U-turn after taking over the power due to which the people of the state have completely lost their faith in democratic exercise and institutions.
Bhalla described Congress Party as an instrument of service to the people, which has remained dedicated to the cause of serving the people. He said Congress party believes in strengthening the people and is committed to equitable development of the State. He said 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 people. On this occasion he felt confident that people of the Country and State have realized that it is the Congress Party alone which has served them (people) best and he felt confident that Congress Party being an all-weather friend of the people would continue to strive hard for the overall development of the State and people. Congress has been pioneer in implementing revolutionary programmes aimed at improving the conditions of the people, especially those living in remote and backward areas, he added. Bhalla described previous PDP-BJP dispensation as anti-poor and anti development, saying due to administrative inertia and lack of political direction the sufferings of the people increased manifold. The insensitive coalition government pushed people to the wall, as unemployment has increased, prices have risen and developmental activities have suffered a huge dent”, he added.
“Congress always stood for the welfare and upliftment of common masses and fought for their legitimate rights”, he said, adding that BJP is exploiting the poor people and down trodden sections of the society by showing them such dreams, which they cannot fulfill.He termed PDP and BJP as dream sellers and hollow slogan mongers as the leaders of these parties just appear during electioneering and after elections, disappear.“In Gandhi Nagar constituency, there were only two Higher Secondary Schools before I became MLA by getting the mandate of the people and presently the constituency is having around 15 Higher Secondary Schools, which catering to the needs of thousands of students at their doorsteps. All this happened due to the positive approach, sincerity and dedication of the Congress party towards the people”, Minister asserted.Seeking vote for Congress party, Bhalla asked the people to make best use of their vote in the forthcoming Assembly elections to elect honest, dedicated and people friendly representative.He added that the Congress-led Government had shown the way in the execution of mega projects like roads, hydro-power, colleges, schools and hospitals, in a time bound manner, in addition to providing an efficient, credible and pro-people governance to the state inspite of the hurdles created by alliance partners, and other anti-progress forces.“No other political party can claim credit of having executed big projects in such an efficient and speedy manner in Jammu and Kashmir as has been done by Congress-led Government”, Bhalla stated.
