Shadow Correspondent
Jammu, July, 25
To condemn the Centre over petrol prices breaching the ?100-mark in J&K, the Congress activists led by JKPCC Vice President Raman Bhalla Sunday held strong protest against BJP Govt over price hike of petroleum products and essential elements at Bahu Fort Ward 47.Activists holding placards and LPG cylinders raised slogans against BJP Govt for continuously raising prices of essential commodities including petrol, diesel and LPG.The Congress said the agitation would be intensified if the price hike was not rolled back. The Congress leaders said petrol and diesel are being sold at high prices because of the exorbitant duty levied on them and the Centre has earned hefty revenue out of it over the past few years. Prominent among those who joined protest include Ramakant District Vise President,Jatinder Chib Block President, Diwan Chand Dist Gen Secy, Mullah Raj, Chaman Lal, Lati Arna President Ward 48, Gagan Neal Pancho, Smt Harmoniser Kour Ex Panch, Sahil Avotra ,Gopal Sharma, Mangat Ram , Har Dutt,Dev Raj,Pintu,Amit, Anil ,Sachin,Tara Chand, Balram Langeh, Manohar Lal Dalotra,Pawan Kumar Priesident Maha Kali Market.
Speaking on the occasion, Bhalla said that general public is facing hardships because of the high taxes on the petrol levied by the Centre. It has aggravated the problems of the common people who have already been facing financial crisis due to job losses amid Covid-19 pandemic. The Congress-led UPA government had successfully kept the petrol diesel prices under control despite high crude oil prices in the international market. Modi government has levied exorbitant taxes and duties on petrol and diesel,” Bhalla said.Bhalla said that emotive slogans have retarded the growth of Jammu and Kamir during the past seven years, increased unemployment and paralysed economy. Jammu has suffered the most as the BJP took people for-granted and did virtually nothing instead of making fast promises. And, the height is that instead of apologising to the people for their failures on all fronts, the BJP leaders are brazenly testing their patience by again indulging in rhetoric. If they would have bothered to feel the pulse of the public sensitivity, they would have known where they stand. The wrath and the anger of the Jammu people has already given a big jolt to the BJP in the recent District Development Council elections and they are feeling earth under their feet aking, he added.The period of despondency will definitely be taken over by hope and promise of better tomorrow, he maintained.”Till then, it is incumbent upon the administration to speed up development, which has been in silent mode for the past seven years and take measures to fill up the vacancies on fast track basis so that educated unemployed find some sort of succour”, Bhalla said, hoping that the administration will also ensure completion of various mega projects in the Jammu region that have already crossed several deadlines.
JKPCC Vice President and former Minister Raman Bhalla on Sunday claimed that BJP Govt making futile attempts to divert the media’s attention from the ground situation in J&K. Govt is raising frivolous issues to divert the attention of the media from the barrage of criticism the government was receiving. He said the people will pronounce their verdict against the BJP’s worst ever political treachery during upcoming elections in a big way. He said the people have suffered the most but there was no remorse in BJP for inflicting scars on J&K psyche. The former minister said that BJP leaderip has ditched the people of J&K. He said the BJP stands fully exposed before the people of Jammu and Kamir, as it did not only reversed the process of development but also failed in fulfilling the urges and aspirations of J&K people. He said that the BJP government has failed on all fronts and the people have been left in lurch due to mis-governance. “For ending this nightmari era, the people ould seize the opportunity of upcoming assembly elections and give their verdict against BJP misrule”, Bhalla said and exhorted the people to support Congress in bringing back pristine glory of J&K addressing and taking along all sections of society without any discrimination.
It is highly unfortunate to note that different political and social groups taking their fight to the streets against the alleged “discriminatory policies” being pursued by the ruling BJP government. Bhalla highlight the alleged failure of the government, especially the BJP, in addressing the genuine aspirations of the people.
“This government has miserably failed to live up to the expectations of the people. There is a strong resentment among the people against this government as it has not fulfilled its promises made at the time of Assembly elections,” he said.BJP has played with the sentiments of the people who voted them to power. People are not happy with their policies and the government has proved to be a failure. We have taken to the 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 Kamir,” Bhalla said.
Bhalla said BJP government’s seven years in power could be summed up in criminal wrongdoings in J&K , accusing the Centre of bringing in a financial crisis, triggering large-scale unemployment and mismanaging the Covid crisis.“In the last seven years, BJP government has given the country immeasurable pain. It has been seven years since the country got a failed, and mindless government.
The country is suffering as unemployment rate reached 11.3% in 7 years. Petrol prices have crossed ?100 and mustard oil ?200 in many provinces. It has proved to be the weakest government in the country in the 73 years,” Bhalla said.Time has come to ask who is responsible for destruction, pain and sufferings that has been inflicted on the people of India and that is why it is time for stock-taking,” he said.He alleged that the government was not paying heed to the needs of the poor and the middle-class as it accused the Centre of playing with the livelihoods of farmers to help its “capitalist friends” by bringing in the three controversial farm laws.
Bhalla urged the Centre to introspect on whether it has been able to fulfill the basic needs of people in J&K. He accused BJP government in Jammu and Kamir of promoting politics of hate to hide its alleged failures on all fronts.”J&K is at the crossroads of history with opportunistic BJP presiding over its destiny, the politically matured people will have to change the discourse by isolating reactionary elements,” said Bhalla .Highlighting the crucial role played by the people of Jammu in promoting and sustaining secular ethos even during the most testing times, Bhalla called for a “decisive battle against divisive forces, who have taken central stage by exploiting regional and religious sentiments to further their myopic and nefarious agenda.”This can be possible only by forging unity and further strengthening the bonds of amity,” he said.Bhalla said the challenges being faced by Jammu and Kamir were manifold, especially in the wake of “hate politics” being promoted by the BJP coalition, as a ield to hide its “failures on all fronts”.Communal politics is against the secular ethos of Jammu and Kamir and those perpetrating it are doing a disservice to the people,” he said, adding that his party would continue to cleanse degenerated political atmosphere by strengthening the secular fabric, which is corner stone of J&K.The senior Congress leader accused the BJP government of plunging J&K into unprecedented political uncertainty by failing to maintaining law and order, adopting anti-people policies and indulging in politics of hate.The present dispensation has failed in meeting challenges faced by J&K,” he said.
Bhalla drew attention towards the problems being faced by people due to insensitive attitude of the LG Administration and concerned authorities. He charged the BJP Government with failure on all fronts and said that people were repenting for their vote to this party during the last Assembly elections. “BJP has not only failed to come upto the expectations of people but this party has also surrendered the dignity of Jammu for its power lust,” he alleged.Maintaining that only Congress can provide a pro-people and secular government in J&K, Bhalla exhorted the party workers to gear up for the forthcoming assembly elections, which are likely to be announced soon in J&K. He said that Congress is the only party, which has acceptability in all three regions of J&K because of its commitment towards welfare of common masses. He advised the BJP to stop rhetoric and focus on development and employment in marginalized Jammu and Kamir.”BJP is creating a lot of euphoria by raising noise over non-issues instead of addressing the accumulated problems of the people”, Bhalla said.
