JKPCC Working President meets AICC General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi in New Delhi

New Delhi, June 26, 2023:- JKPCC Working President Raman Bhalla met AICC General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi in New Delhi and apprised her about the current state of affairs on the political front and the activities of the party in Jammu and Kashmir.Bhalla updated her about the Congress agitations and protests against the unprecedented price hike of petrol, diesel, gas and other commodities and the decision to impose property tax and other taxes in J&K which has overburdened the already distressed residents. He sought guidelines from the high command to strengthen the party and organisational structure at various levels in Jammu and Kashmir.

Mrs Gandhi asked Bhalla to continue working towards highlighting the wrongdoings of the government, especially the “anti-people decisions of the Modi government” towards Jammu and Kashmir.She appreciated JKPCC Working President and cadres for their struggle and commitment to fight against the communal and divisive forces in Jammu and Kashmir.Mrs Gandhi asked Bhalla to activate the cadres at various levels in order to highlight issues of people and expose the failures and falsehood of BJP and the failures of the Centre government in J&K to come up to the expectations of the people on various vital commitments. The party should highlight the issues of people in J&K with a view to launch an offensive against BJP for their failures on various fronts besides neglect and failures to fulfill the commitments with the people of J&K.

Bhalla also discussed the feedback from the workers and people about the functioning of present government and the role being played by the Congress to represent and highlight the issues of people of J&K.He discussed various measures for further strengthening the party in J&K.Bhalla held discussions over the wide range of issues concerning people of J&K. He also briefed Mrs Gandhi about the socio-political developments prevailing in J&K, besides having a detailed discussion on different issues confronting people especially, rising unemployment, economic losses, lack of development and other issues of public importance. He briefed the leadership about the fallout of disconnect between the present dispensation and people in absence of the popular government leading to restlessness amongst the people, besides briefing them about various other burning issues.

Bhalla criticized the “mis-governance” of the BJP Government due to which the common masses are feeling cheated. He blamed the Government for failing to tackle prices and making life difficult for the common man.He accused the BJP-led central government of following “aggressive and destructive” policies on Jammu and Kashmir.Accusing BJP of trying to undermine the constitutional and political rights of the people, Bhalla said it was disturbing to see that new aggressive laws undermining the rights and interests of J-K are being brought into effect with each passing day.He also denounced the BJP government for not restoring statehood to J-K and also not holding assembly elections.

 “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,” Bhalla said.In his hour-long discussion, Bhalla talked about the issues of the daily wagers, intensifying corruption, rising unemployment, irregularities in the selection of job aspirants, illegal mining and handing over projects to outside contractors.He also criticized the J&K BJP saying it has failed to bring any kind of change. “It (J&K BJP) is dependent upon the national-level politics. They just implemented their political agenda to gain vote bank politics across the country, but failed in Jammu,” he said.

Bhalla said the people of J&K are ready to support Congress to form the next government in J&K “as they strong believe that only Congress will work for their equitable development, protect their resources, through the contractors from outside, protect the jobs in the private sector, and work for the business, and other sectors”. Bhalla alleged the assembly elections in the Union Territory are being delayed as the BJP does not want to face the ‘angry’ voters. “There is growing public anguish against the Union Territory (UT) administration for being directly controlled by the BJP. The party does not want to face the assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir because of misgovernance. Therefore, the polls are being delayed without any justification,” he said.

Bhalla said the administration has failed to do justice with the people with regard to their development, employment and other issues.He said growing unemployment and unaddressed issues of education and health sectors have given rise to “anti-administration sentiments”.He hit out at Centre for failing people of J&K on all fronts while  expressing serious concern over the unremitting disconnect between the administration and the people in absence of the democratic setup in J&K and blamed BJP for hiding behind its failures.“One fails to understand as to how long the BJP will abandon people of J&K of their democratic rights aiming to serve its (BJP’s) political agenda which is based on lies and deceit will be fought and defeated in a democratic manner,” he said.

Bhalla further expressed serious concern over the imposition of property tax on economically depressed people and said after downgrading of State into two UTs in an undemocratic and unconstitutional manner, Centre is punishing people under the garb of enacting different laws, from time to time in order to divert attention from its failures and damages caused to every sector in J&K.He asked the Centre to pave the way for democratic process in J&K, which is bound to address disconnect, disappointment and other immediate issues concerning people, who have experienced tremendous hardships post reorganization of erstwhile J&K State.

(NOTE: PRESS RELEASE PUBLISHED AS RECEIVED)