Shadow Correspondent
Jammu, 25 Sept:
JKPCC Working President Raman Bhalla today asserted that Congress has always played a “leading role” in tackling the challenges posed before the country and it is only the congress that can feel the pain of people of Jammu and Kashmir. This was stated by former Minister while addressing series of election meetings at Sardarechak, Old Satwari, Baba Deep Singh Nagar, Kunjwani, Kotli Shah Doula and RS Pura Ward-13 in RS Pura Jammu South constituency on Wednesday.
Speaking on the occasion, Bhalla said, “Today, the situation of J&K has become adverse owing to the anti-people policies of the Government. Spiralling inflation, poverty, malnutrition, crime and challenges before the democratic values, Constitution and Constitutional institutions, can only be tackled by the Congress. For this, everybody has to play an active role.”Claiming that Congress understands the pain faced by the people, Bhalla said, “The history of the Congress has been to reduce the pain of every section of the country. This is our present as well as the future. Hence, our first priority is the country and the people. Stand with them, share their pain, and work hard to help them get rid of the pain.”He also said that the BJP Governments at the Centre and in J&K have “committed the sin of pushing people into problems”.
Bhalla also said, “The BJP Government has no vision. It is cheating the youth and the unemployed persons, and doing injustice. Instead of answering questions, it speaks lies, and avoids accountability.”Addressing concerns about job opportunities and nepotism, Bhalla reiterated Congress’s dedication to implementing pro-poor and pro-oppressed policies for their upliftment. He assured support for refugees, poor farmers, and marginalized communities.
Taking a dig at the BJP, he accused the ruling party of undermining the constitutional and political rights of J&K residents. He criticized the government for delaying the restoration of statehood and deliberately delaying holding assembly elections in the UT.
The JKPCC leader emphasized the need for unity among people in Jammu and the valley to safeguard their rights and interests. He urged the initiation of a movement to demand the restoration of statehood and the reversal of hostile laws affecting the region. Assuring Congress’s commitment to protecting Jammu and Kashmir’s interests, Bhalla emphasized the party’s efforts for peace and prosperity in the region. He urged public support to ensure the effective implementation of Congress’s people-friendly agenda.He underscored the importance of ongoing assembly elections and called upon the people of Jammu to reject divisive forces. He highlighted the urgency for supporting Congress, signalling growing political alienation in the region.
Bhalla criticized the preference for outsiders in developmental projects, pledging to prioritize locals for employment. He called for public support to elect Congress candidates to address the region’s issues effectively.Raman reiterated Congress’s vision for the economic empowerment of Jammu and Kashmir’s people, promising impartial development and prosperity for all citizens, regardless of their affiliations. He urged party leaders and workers to strengthen their political activities and outreach programs to stay connected with the masses.
Speaking on the occasion, Bhalla said that the unprecedented price rise and record unemployment especially in Jammu and Kashmir, the Modi government has utterly failed to bring the prices under control. The common man is suffering due to unprecedented prices of all essential commodities and unreasonable taxes. All sections of society are worst sufferers under BJP regime. The Jammu and Kashmir tops in the unemployment in the country and the educated youth are frustrated due to wrong policy of the government. Lakhs of educated youth’s are without jobs in Jammu and Kashmir while the daily wagers, need based, contractual and other temporary employees are protesting for regularization.
Bhalla said that constant price-hike, people in all parts of country were taking to streets to express anger over the increase of prices of essential commodities of life but this callous govt has not moved even an inch to address this burning issue and infect busy in poll campaigns least bothering about grievances of common man. It divided the country on communal line for vote bank politics. He said the government, after coming into power, had been increasing the prices of oil, gas and electricity.
The government has failed to provide relief to the masses which the BJP leaders used to claim. He said that the incompetent rulers even failed to provide any relief to common man during festive occasions also. It shows their intentions and love for people as prices of daily use commodities are cut on the occasions of religious festivals in the whole world but here the claimants of ‘Naya J&K’ snatched the right of living from the masses, especially the poor class,” said Bhalla. He said that Congress party is the only truly secular, democratic and progressive force which can keep Jammu and Kashmir on the path of peace, progress and harmony while the forces of hatred would create wedge in the society and the regions for vote bank politics.
Bhalla said that there is no place for politics of exploitation and negative politics, as people of the erstwhile state appreciate and participate in the vibrant democracy of this great nation for a better future and good governance. However until the status of statehood with all consequential rights and the popular government is restored people’s unrest will not end. People feel cheated, divided, deprived, downgraded with loss of dignity, status and genuine tights, which was never expected by them even in dream. Jammu and Kashmir has the distinction of being the most religious harmonious place in the country against grave provocations and the long spell of terrorism, he added.Bhalla appealed the people to look back to the history of traditional harmony, peace and secularism and reject the forces of exploitation and hatred for a better future, for which Congress is the truly secular, democratic, nationalist and progressive force to lead the people of Jammu and Kashmir on the path progress and prosperity alongwith rest of the country.
