NC kick starts District-Wise Conventions in view of Upcoming Assembly Elections
Drastic decline in BJP’s vote share indicating a clear shift in public sentiment, says Rattan Lal Gupta
People leaving BJP, moving towards NC with their needs & aspirations
RS PURA, June 26: Following a resounding victory in the recent Lok Sabha elections, the Jammu & Kashmir National Conference (JKNC) is intensifying its efforts in preparation for the upcoming State Assembly elections. As part of this initiative, a day-long district-wise convention was held at the border village Dewangarh R.S Pura.
The convention was graced by the presence of Rattan Lal Gupta, Provincial President of JKNC, as the Chief Guest. Other notable attendees included Babu Rampal Central Zone President and former Minister; Sheikh Bashir Ahmed, Provincial Secretary of JKNC; Vijay Lochan, Chairman JKNC SC Cell; and Pardeep Bali Provincial Secretary, among others.
At the beginning of the convention, Naresh Bittu, District President of Jammu Rural B, JKNC, who organized today’s convention, apprised senior party functionaries regarding significant issues faced by residents in border areas. These included the non-availability of basic amenities, unemployment, the lack of recruitment drives in belt forces, the dilapidated condition of bunkers, insufficient irrigation facilities for farmers, irregular power and water supply, and the worsts state of local health centers/ dispensaries.
In his address, Rattan Lal Gupta criticized the BJP Government for bringing immense miseries to the people residing in border areas through unfulfilled promises and inaction. He highlighted the Central Government’s failure to address the needs of border dwellers, particularly the farming community, which relies heavily on consistent power supply for irrigation and MSP of their products.
Gupta asserted that there is gross resentment among people against the saffron party, which has miserably failed to meet their expectations in last 10 years. He pointed out the drastic decline in BJP’s vote share from 46.2% to 24.36% in the recent Lok Sabha elections in Jammu and Kashmir, indicating a clear shift in public sentiment due to anti people policies and misgovernance.
“Today, people mostly youth are leaving BJP and moving towards the National Conference with so many hopes for a brighter future. The people of Jammu and Kashmir are seeking change and are increasingly supporting the National Conference, which aligns more closely with their needs and aspirations,” he added.
Rattan Lal Gupta assured the people of Border area of RS Pura that the National Conference, with the support of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, will once again form its own government, promising that all their burning issues would be resolved as a priority including the unemployment and regularization of Daily wagers.
Babu Rampal, senior NC leader and former minister accused present dispensation of adopting a discriminatory approach towards the border youth with no employment policy or any kind of development project. He said that the Central government promised to raise the Border Battalion but as usual the corrupt government has cancelled the results of 2 Border Battalions of Jammu and Kashmir Police Border Battalion terming an example of government’s apathy. He said that finding their future bleak, these unemployed youth are passing through a phase of utter frustration and despair.
Sheikh Bashir Ahmed, Provincial Secretary NC, urged the people to sustain the momentum gained from the recent polls and to extend their support in the upcoming Assembly elections. He emphasized that with their backing, the National Conference is committed to addressing these issues and forming the next government in Jammu and Kashmir, dedicated to the welfare and progress of its people.
Vijay Lochan, Chairman SC Cell of National Conference and Pardeep Bali Provincial Secretary, in his address, expressed concern over weaker sections not getting rights, rising unemployment and complete lack of avenues. They said that only NC has will and determination to ensure rights and justice to the weaker sections as there are umpteen such examples where NC leadership has taken daring steps to provide fair deal to the poor strata and deprived people with ‘land to tillers’ being the best step in this direction by party’s founder late Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah.
Bimla Luthra former MLA and State Vice President Women Wing emphasized that only National Conference raised the burning issues of the women folk and always try to give more and more empowerment to the women folk.
Among those who were present include: Satwant Kour Dogra Provincial President Women Wing, Rakesh Singh Raka, Thoru Ram Mandi Vice Presidents Central Zone, S. Surjeet Singh Sasan Secretary Central Zone, Vikram Puri Chairman Trade and Industry, Daljit Sharma District President Jammu Rural A Women wing, Bharti, Shakuntla Devi, S. Balvinder Singh Block President Miran Sahib, Dev Raj, Jatinder Kumar, Ravinder Singh Papu, Jimmi Kumar, Jagga Ram, Jatinder Bhagat, Dr. Gurdarshan Singh, Bhagwan Singh and others.