BJP fails to bring change in lives of common people: Raman Bhalla

JKPCC Sunday organized public meeting at Shangaldan in Banihal Constituency and addressed by JKPCC President Vikar Rasool Wani, JKPCC Working President Raman Bhalla, Ex MLA Ashok Dogra, Asif Naqeeb, Imtiaz Ahmed Khanday and others. Prominent among those present on the occasion include Bashir Ahmed Bhat, Mohd Syeed Dar Block President, Zahir Hussain Block President, Tosha Singh, Arfan Bhat, Khaliq Ex Sarpanch, Mushaq Ahmed, Shamer Din Wani, Zahir Hussain Ch. Mohd. Amin Kanchra, Nazir Ahmed, Firoz Khan, Mohd. Handed, Puran Singh, Ghulam Mohd, Ch Mustaq Rather beside others.

JKPCC Chief addressing a huge public gathering said that workers of Congress are epitome of sacrifice and selfless service who have withstood all challenges and proven their loyalty towards people, party and its leadership,” he said. The party’s objective has never been power but dignity and development of the state and people, adding that “There have been conspiracies against us in the past and it still is continuing as political parties are being created in every nook and corner of the erstwhile State to divide us.

Wani further said that ”Congress is the only party with credible footprints in all 90 Assembly constituencies of the state”. Taking a dig at political soothsayers, he said those patting their backs over standing in the state’s political sphere and claiming to form next government in J&K will not find enough candidates to field from all constituencies. Launching a scathing attack on the BJP, Wani said the saffron party stands exposed for self-centered agenda as all its acts are guided by “brazen biases and short sighted politics”.Wani said the BJP’s manoeuvres in Jammu and Kashmir have left people in lurch and said “nothing is going to bail them out as the people have made a point to punish them through their votes.”

“BJP stands discredited and isolated for its myopic politics. They stand exposed for their duplicity, deception and self-centered agenda, which has taken a heavy toll on the people’s lives,” he said. Wani said “all their acts are guided by brazen biases and short sighted politics. None of their acts are aimed at solving people’s issues. So far they have only deepened the issues faced by people, the people of Chenab valley (comprising Ramban, Doda and Kishtwar districts) have particularly been left to God’s mercy.” “In reality, the far-flung areas of Jammu region have totally been ignored. BJP does not think beyond self-interests . Having diminished their deposit with the people, the BJP is now trying to conquer the region through back doors by gerrymandering constituencies and bringing outside voters. All they want is to capture the power,” Wani said.

Exhorting the people, particularly youth, to register as voters, Wani said, “this time we will be voting for the future of our younger generation. This time it is about protecting our culture, our unique identity and our individuality. There is no scope for complacency.“No one is going to help us. We all have to register for voting and subsequently vote in large numbers to stop BJP from achieving its nefarious designs that aim to disempower local Kashmiris, Gujjars, Dogras and Paharis,” he said.On employment avenues, Wani said far from providing jobs to Jammu youth, the BJP-led central government is snatching jobs.“What they have done so far is open the floodgates for outsiders in the Jammu region. All the jobs, mining contracts are being outsourced. The marginal traders and retail sector businesses of Jammu are also inching towards disaster,” he alleged.“Thousands of youngsters in Jammu are idling away without jobs despite having degrees. Unemployment in Jammu and Kashmir is a manufactured reality as the sole by-product of the BJP’s incapacitated policymaking. Our youth are yearning for a sigh of relief,” he said.

Speaking on the occasion, Bhalla asked the functionaries to shoulder critical responsibilities in the party's fight for the protection of J&K’s unique cultural and political identity.He however said functionaries have braved all hardships and rallied around the party flag during the worst of times. Sacrifices made by our party leaders occupy the foremost place in our hearts. They fought with true spirit and undaunted courage and faced various tortures, exploitations and hardships to earn us freedom with dignity," he said. Bhalla pointed out that now-a-days, people living in remote areas are facing severe crisis due to administrative inertia by the present dispensation, adding that the administration is clueless about the problems of the people live in remote and far flung areas.

Bhalla said the bad condition of various roads have badly impacted mobility and added to the misery of the people living in these remote villages and demanded upgradation and black topping of all leftover roads.While highlighting the local problems, He complained about the dilapidated condition of roads, erratic power supply in far-off areas besides lack of health care facilities in their villages and demanded uninterrupted electricity supply in their respective villages. He also complained about the scarcity of drinking water in several villages in the area. damaged due to recent floods.He said that Congress is the only party having its presence in every nook and corner of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh. “It stands for satiating the urges and aspirations of the people, irrespective of caste, creed, colour and region,” he added.

Bhalla said the Party has a chequered history of public service and it has always stood for the just cause of the people, adding that the “Congress aims at empowerment of J&K people and the unification of like-minded people for this purpose is of utmost importance”. He urged the party workers to work collectively to bring a positive change in the lives of common masses by empowering them in all the aspects of their lives. He described Congress as a deep rooted public movement, which, he said, believes in single entity of the State and has been striving for assuaging the politico-developmental aspirations of all segments of people. He referred to the historic role of Congress in generating political awakening and making the people masters of their own destiny. He also referred to the historic role played by Congress in strengthening democracy and forging the bonds of amity between various sections of the people.

Bhalla referring to the specific problems of Chenab region said even though it is the richest area in water, scenic assets, forest and mineral resources the economic condition of the people living there represents the failure of BJP Govt to harness these resources and bring a change in the lives of common people. He said many areas in the region do not have a road connectivity not to speak of amenities for health and education. He said the area is witnessing serious ecological problems because of the construction activity around power infrastructure but the residents of the area do not get any benefit from these power houses. The region holds a dubious record of perhaps the largest number of road accidents which have caused thousands of deaths and disabilities. He said only a party like Congress which is connected to people at gross roots can address them in an effective manner

Ex MLA Ashok Dogra said,” Congress’s vision is by now sufficiently introduced in the public domain and gaining acceptability and the fact that we do not indulge in hollow rhetoric is borne out by our performance both in government and in opposition.” He added that the political resolution and economic development of the state have to go hand in hand and neither can be achieved in isolation. Dogra said J&K is facing tremendous challenges and problems which have been severely accentuated by the incompetence, inefficiency and misgovernance of the present dispensation. These problems are not of such nature as could not be solved, Dogra said and pointed to the rich natural and human resources which could be utilized for welfare of people and development of infrastructure. He said the power crisis, lack of employment opportunities, corruption and a pathetic deficit in health and education sectors are the issues that need to be addressed seriously. He said any delay could push J&K further into chaos and unrest and Congress will focus on these issues to make Jammu & Kashmir a state with distinction.