Bhalla visits martyred ITBP jawan’s residence in Samba

Delay in holding elections in J&K serious concern of all sections of society: Bhalla

Samba: November 22:- JKPCC Working President Raman Bhalla Raman Bhalla accompanied by Ex MLA Yashpal Kundal, Congress District President Samba  Sanjeev Sharma today visited villages  Kali Bari, Abtal,  Sadho, Rakh Amb Talli and  Krandi of Samba District to listen to grievances of villagers.  Prominent among those present on the occasion include  Kamir Singh Councillor, Sarpanch Vinod Kumar ,  Sarpanch Krishan  Chaman, Sarpanch Vinod Kumar, Som  Nath, Suresh Kumar, Block President  Mahaesh  Sharma, Balram Kundal, Parshotam Kumar and  Chaman Lal . The people expressed their anguish over delay in holding assembly elections as they claimed that their issues remain unaddressed and the administration works as per its wishes which often puts general masses in trouble.The people also raised the issue of clean drinking water, shabby condition of roads, tail end villages not getting canal water etc.

Earlier Bhalla along with other Congress leaders visited the residence of martyred Joginder Lal, head constable of Indo – Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) to express his condolence at his native village Avtal Katla in Samba District.The ITBP paramilitary personnel were providing security cover to the polling team in Chattisgarh on November 17, 2023, that was returning following the election when the blast was triggered by Naxalites.To express his solidarity with the bereaved family members, the Former Minister accompanied by other prominent people visited the residence of the martyred ITBP personnel.He expressed heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family members and prayed for the eternal peace of the departed soul. He criticized the attack on the security personnel who were providing protection to the polling team.

Speaking on the occasion, Bhalla criticized authorities for their inability to provide basic amenities to the villagers in the rural belt in Samba District.He said that Congress is committed for equitable development of people in all the regions of Jammu and Kashmir. However, the delay in holding elections in J&K has become a serious concern of all sections of society. The people have equally expressed their concern, but their concerns are not being given heed.”He said that for the last more than nine years, J & K, especially Jammu plains, have suffered very badly with slow pace of development and discrimination on implementation of developmental works.

Bhalla said Congress Party is constantly fighting for the rights of the people of both the regions. He said that “The delay in assembly elections is unfortunate and it has hurt the basic structure and fundamental rights of the democratic institutions to have an elected Govt.The people of J&K have been discriminated against and forced to remain without an elected Govt. The panchayat and local body elections are a welcome step, but that does not mean the elections of J&K assemblies should be delayed with excuses having no ground.”

Bhalla urged the government to provide basic amenities in the Kandi belt of Samba district. He said government failed to develop the Kandi belt of Jammu plains. The kandi belt of Samba lacks proper infrastructure, road connectivity, drinking water and electricity supply,” he said.  He  said that there was no representation to the people of J&K in the government which works without taking into confidence the public representatives.He pledged that his party was committed to the welfare of the common people and would strictly follow the public outreach programme in order to listen and redress their grievances.Bhalla said, “Congress Party does not believe in emotive sloganeering; instead we focus on realistic issues that affect day-to-day lives of the common people. People have suffered for long now. It’s time to give peace and progress a chance.”

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,” said Bhalla. He said, “The historic Dogra State was downgraded into two Union Territories for the political interest after snatching all the basic rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. As the Govt of India and Bureaucracy are enjoying the power, they do not want assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir which is being demanded by the people of the erstwhile state from both the regions.”

“The BJP has allowed the non-locals to extract natural resources and sell them at higher rates due to which the construction cost has increased, Bhalla alleged further adding, “This emerging situation has snatched the source of employment for hundreds of local people across Jammu and Kashmir and made them helpless.”

Bhalla said BJP has betrayed the people of Jammu even after ruling Jammu and Kashmir indirectly through Lt Governor and Advisors from Delhi.“They came to power by turning Jammu against Kashmir for political gains but later they betrayed the trust of the Jammuities who gave them 25 assembly seats in erstwhile State of J&K.”He further said that “BJP do not respect the sentiments of the people. They want power and to serve their political purpose.”He 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. Accusing the BJP’s selective approach has worst hit the Jammuites, he appealed to the people to give a chance to Congress Party to form a majority Govt in Jammu and Kashmir.