Rijiju’s statement is  Centre’s refusal to honor statehood  commitments:  Karra 

Jammu Poonch Railway project neglected by centre: Bhalla 

Rajouri, February 16, 2025:- Taking cue from the statement of Union Minister Mr Kiran Rijiju’s  here yesterday , refusing to give any timeline for  restoration of statehood, JKPCC Chief Tariq Hameed Karra  today hit out at the  Modi  government  at the centre for its clear message that it is not ready to consider grant of statehood to Jammu & Kashmir in near future.

Lashing out at the BJP led centre government for its betrayal over its repeated commitments with regard to early restoration of statehood to Jammu & Kashmir, he said that center committed on the floor of the parliament, before the hon’ble Supreme Court and in numerous public rallies by Prime Minister & Home Minister ,Mr Karra said that Rijiju’s statement yesterday is a clear indication of centre’s intentions not to honour it’s commitments to grant early statehood to J&K.

JKPCC Chief who is on a campaign of Jammu Province , on the party’s mission ” Hamari Riyasat,Hamara Haq” for early restoration of statehood, called upon the people to be ready to fight for getting back their dentity,dignity,status and rights as a state,while addressing a largely attended workers convention at Doongi in district Rajouri today alongwith a team of senior congress leaders including Working President Raman Bhalla, MLA Rajouri Iftikhar Ahmed,District President & former Minister Shabir Ahmed Khan,DDC Rajouri Sain Abdul Rashid, Iqbal Shawl, Ashok Sharma,Ricky Dalotra & several others.

Shri Karra said that during  UPA govt a medical college,besides hlf a dozen degree colleges ,ITIs and other health & education institutions besides sports stadiums were opened apart from various other infrastructure & development works in the district but  BJP leaders make false claims whereas BJP government neglected the border belt of Rajouri – Poonch during ten years of its rule in the field of connectivity,health and education infrastructure.

The Railway project initiated by Shri Rahul Gandhi after his visit to Rajouri in 2012& it’s survey conducted proposing project cost of 13608 crore has been abandoned.He said that several hundred schools were closed and merged. 

He highlighted the large scale unemployment due to anti youth policies of previous administration as the daily wagers ,adhoc,temporary employees of all departments are still suffering for years, RET was stopped,teachers recruitment stopped, army recruitment was changed to Agniveer Scheme and likewise,as a result unemployment is highest.

Karra sahib appreciated the efforts of local MLA Iftikhar Ahmedto serve people and assured people to raise their genuine demand of a tehsil in the area as projected by MLA.

Working President Raman Bhalla in his hard hitting speach lashed out at the BJP for keeping powers of the elected persons and govt with Lt Governor despite elections and not restoring the state.They made repeated commitments for statehood  but betrayed the faith of the people to keep people powerless.

He said BJP government has pushed youth to frustration and drugs due ti largr scale unemployment.There is unprecedented price rise and huge taxations.people are suffering a lot.

He also referred to the betrayal with refugees of POJK  whose one time settlement package was recommended by Congress in 2014 but BJP government gave only meagre amount to them.

MLA Iftikhar Ahmed raised the issues of the area regarding tehsil status and other issues of water and power,ration besides large scale unemployment etc. He sought the attention of the government in this regard.

DCC President Shabir Ahmed Khan highlighted the neglect of Rajouri Poonch region by the BJP government especially neglecting the Railway project besides road and electricity projects.

People raised slogans to restore statehood besides supporting Congress abhiyan of ” Jai Bapu,Hai Bhim and Jai Samvidhan” .Several prominent leaders attended & spoke including Shakeel Mir, Sajad Tariq, Vijay Sharma Seva Dal  Bittu Shah, Amit Sayal, Sushil Sharma, Suraj Langeh,  Balkrishan.Rajinder Singh,Vipin Kumar,Deeraj Sharma,Sat Pal Sharma,Ravinder Chouhan & several DCC,BCC leaders & other prominent leaders.