Shadow Correspondent
Jammu, Oct 01
Senior Congress leader, Raman Bhalla today said that that the treachery and deceit of BJP-PDP is haunting Jammu people who reposed their unflinching faith and support to it with the hope that Jammu may perhaps get a better deal as during the days of its wilderness in the opposition, the BJP leaders were crying hoarse over discrimination and neglect. Former Minister slammed BJP for pushing the State, especially Jammu region, to the wall on all fronts during its misrule for over three years in partnership with the PDP. “The roadmap drawn by the previous Congress Government for development of the State and empowerment of people got a huge dent in these three nightmarish years, resulting in development and administrative inertia, alarming increase in unemployment and poor implementation of various welfare schemes”, Bhalla said while addressing workers meeting at Nanak Nahar , Preet Nagar, Digian, Gangyal areas of Gandhi Nagar Constituency. Bhalla said the people of Jammu are genuinely felling let down which is enormously reflected in the growing public disenchantment. He blamed BJP for prevailing situation, saying that the reactionary politics has done more harm to this region than any good.Bhalla hoped the Governor’s administration will go for a course correction and concentrate on completing the developmental projects set in motion by the Congress Government. He said that BJP owes an explanation to people of Jammu for failing and exploiting them emotionally. He said Congress is the only answer to the problems confronted to the State and steering it to peace, progress and development.Bhalla said the PDP and BJP owe apology to the people for compromising their interests and creating unparalleled political, financial and security stalemate. “Jammu and Kashmir is virtually at the cross roads of its history, as the two mandated parties kept personal interests above the larger interest of people on every issue,” Bhalla said. Former Minister targeted the BJP, the self-styled Messiah of the Jammu region, and asked what it has delivered during the past three and half years except creating controversies one after another. “The people had mandated the party for ‘Ache-Din’ and what they got in return is just a nightmare. The scenario on the development front is pathetic. “This is not what Jammu had aspired or visualized in wildest of its dreams”, he said by exploiting sentiments of innocent Dogras for decades, the BJP stands exposed for the self-centric approach of its leaders, whose greed has superimposed public interest in every arena.”He said the “self-respecting people of Jammu won’t forgive exploiters of their interests and sentiments.Bhalla held the government squarely responsible for creating mess since taking over the reins of administration and putting the state virtually at the brink of collapse. He said the engine of development is gaining rust and the atmosphere of peace and tranquility has become a fact of the past. “What really are you doing after making lot of promises and showing dreams to the people”, Bhalla asked the government, advising it either to perform or perish.Bhalla said that instead responding to grim situation, arising in the wake of ill-conceived policies of the Coalition government, the Government is trying to divert the public attention from its failures and ill-conceived policies and programmes which instead of providing any succor to suffering people have only added to their miseries.
Expressing concern over the irregular supply of ration, Bhalla asked the government to streamline the public distribution system.Bhalla particularly referred to the disillusionment of the people in Jammu and said the self-centric BJP has betrayed their mandate and had nothing to claim except delivering broken promises. The situation has come to such a passé that nothing is moving due to administrative inertia and lack of political direction. Former Minister cautioned the government, asking it not to take public patience for granted. “They can tolerate to some extent but not to any extent,” he said.Bhalla expressed concern over silence of the Centre and said Jammu and Kashmir appears to be the last priority for it. He said the past three-and-a-half years have exposed the BJP, which did not only betrayed people of Jammu but also contributed in the neglect of Jammu. BJP’s track record of maiden governance has been dismal and the only priority for the beneficiaries of Jammu mandate is how to remain glued to power.Referring to the increase in the prices of petrol, diesel and LPG, he said in the past 3 years, fuel prices have increased several times not because of increasing crude prices, which have been falling, but due to the increase in taxes by the BJP led NDA government.
