Congress won’t leave any stone unturned to protect interests of J&K people: Bhalla

Jammu, February 16, 2024:- JKPCC Working President Raman Bhalla on Friday asserted that Congress has always taken a “leading role” in tackling the challenges posed before the country. It very well knows how to discharge its role of sacrificing everything for the country,” Bhalla said while interacting with aggrieved people of Bahu constituency. 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.” Urging the Congress workers to understand 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 said Congress continuously questioning the BJP government on inflation, unemployment, increasing prices of petrol, diesel and cooking gas and also stage protests on these issues.The government jobs are falling prey to nepotism and favoritism and the candidates selected for jobs are moving from pillar to post to get their appointment, he said. Bhalla said that Congress always framed & implemented the pro poor and pro oppressed policies to ensure their upliftment since independence and referred to the protection of their rights to jobs in district cadre posts all over state in the last govt. He also referred to the plight of refugees and the poor farmers who were being uprooted by present dispensation and assured that Congress will fight for the poor & downtrodden.

Bhalla, while taking a dig at the BJP blamed the ruling party in Delhi is trying to undermine the Constitutional and political rights of the J&K people. He said, “It is disturbing to see that new aggressive laws undermining the rights and interests of J&K are being brought into the effect here with each passing day.” He also denounced the BJP Government for not restoring Statehood to J&K, and not holding Assembly elections in the UT. “To elect their own representatives to place them at the helm of affairs is a democratic right of the people, and they cannot be deprived of this right for so long without any plausible reason.” he said.Emphasizing on unity among the people of Jammu and the Valley, and urging them to maintain harmony, Bhalla said, “People of both regions ought to stand united and maintain harmony so that they can protect their Constitutional rights and mutual interests. “We need to initiate a movement to demand our rights such as the restoration of Statehood, holding of immediate Assembly polls, and reversal of hostile laws which are being brought into the effect for past some time,. Jammu and Valley is a single unit and people must understand that they have mutual interests to protect. You must stand united and assert your rights,” he added.

Bhalla assured that Congress will not leave any stone unturned to protect the interests of Jammu and Kashmir.He said, Congress is working for a peaceful and prosperous Jammu and Kashmir. Peace and prosperity will, eventually empower people politically and economically.” “However, Congress Party needs full public support to ensure its people friendly agenda is implemented properly.” Asserting that the people desperately want assembly elections for the first time in the history of Jammu and Kashmir, Bhalla said that Jammu has major role to play in upcoming elections by isolating the divisive forces that are bent upon destroying peaceful communal atmosphere.The political alienation of the people is widely being felt that is why there is desperation for assembly elections for the first time unlike the past.Bhalla said BJP has betrayed the people of Jammu even after ruling Jammu and Kashmir indirectly through Lt Governor and Advisors from Delhi.He further said that “BJP do not respect the sentiments of the people. They want power and to serve their political purpose.”

Bhalla said that they have witnessed the BJP Rule in which no development and instead unemployment has increased manifolds with the cancellation of the selection lists. “Jammu remained the worst hit with the BJP’s selective approach and appealed to the people to give a chance to their own Congress Party to form a majority Govt in Jammu and Kashmir. We are committed to provide equal opportunity for development, employment and other opportunities,” he said.Under present Govt, he said one can find only outsiders as Govt officials in the Civil Secretariats and District Administration while the local Govt officials who work on merits have been sidelined.“If we come to power, we will replace the non-local Govt officials and the local Govt officials will get the preference to ensure justice with the local population of Jammu as well as Kashmir,” he said.For this, he asked the people to vote for the candidates of Congress Party in the upcoming assembly elections as it would end their suffering and provide them an opportunity to get their issues resolved by their representatives.

Bhalla said that “We know the difficulties being faced by the people in J&K. He added, “Rather than providing job opportunities for the local population, outsiders are being given preference in the ongoing developmental projects. Ideally, locals should have been given priority for employment opportunities, but we observe that everyone from contractors to laborers is being brought in from outside, as if we have a shortage of manpower here in Jammu and Kashmir.”We have faith in the democratic values of our country, and we aspire to the same rights that are enjoyed by people in other regions of the country.”He said, “We have a vision and a roadmap to ensure the economic empowerment of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. I assure you that we will ensure impartial development of all regions and prosperity for all citizens, regardless of their regional, religious, or political affiliations.”He urged the leaders and workers to enhance their political activities and public outreach program in their respective areas in order to remain in touch with the masses.