Rtd XEN Surinder Devgoda joins Congress in Bishnah

Bhalla demands holding much-delayed assembly elections in J&K for empowerment of people

BISHNAH, June 24, 2023: J&K Pradesh Congress Committee Working President Raman Bhalla today said that Congress represents the urges and aspirations of people and it will continue to serve them as an instrument of service and safeguard people’s rights.He made these comments at Bishnah where Rtd XEN Surinder Devgoda along with several workers joined Congress in massive rally at Bishnah  and expressed confidence in the pro people policies and programmes of Congress.He welcomed the new entrants hoping that their joining will inspire others to join Congress given its pro people policies, transparent and principle-based politics.

Prominent among those present on the occasion include Jammu District Rural President Hari Singh Chib , Sewa Dal Chief Vijay Sharma, Secy JKPCC Satish Sharma,  Congress Refugee Cell Chairman Amrit Bali, NSUI President Ajay Lakhotra,  Distt  Vice President Ajaib Singh Mottan ,  Vice President INTUC Shashi Sayal,    Sarpanchs Deepu Singh,Rajesh Sharma, Rinku Langeh, Karan Singh, Naib Sarpanchs Gurnam Singh, Pawan Kumar,Raman Kumar, Latish Sharma, Satish Sharma besides others.They vowed to work for further strengthening Congress.

Speaking on the occasion Bhalla expressed confidence that the new entrants will utilize Congress platform to serve people to the best of their ability, besides strengthening Congress party further in their respective areas, as that, it is the Congress Party alone which represents urges and aspirations of the people in true sense.“Congress Party is strong enough, it cannot be cowed down by the falsehood and malicious propaganda of BJP,” Bhalla added and urged the Party workers to remain steadfast to serve people and highlight their issues for their resolution.

Bhalla dismissed Shah’s J&K visit as “cosmetic” and said he is the one that “refused to acknowledge the ground realities”. Expressing utter disappointment over the visit of Union Council of Ministers to Jammu and Kashmir, he termed it as a futile exercise since not even a single demand committed with the people has been fulfilled. Terming visit as an eye wash and a strategy to divert public attention from Government’s failure, Bhalla asked Govt to send its ministers with some funds in hands so that they can redress the public issues in real sense. He said that this public outlet campaign is going on from last couple of years but it has remained as a flop show and high expectation of public from these visits have fallen flat.

Asserting that Jammu and Kashmir residents want the restoration of their “honour and dignity”, Bhalla on Saturday demanded holding the much-delayed assembly elections in the Union Territory for the “empowerment of the people”. “The people across Jammu and Kashmir are feeling disempowered by the bureaucratic regime. On the other hand, the unnecessary delay in holding assembly elections has given rise to a feeling of alienation among the people that needs to be addressed at the earliest,” Bhalla said.

Bhalla alleged that the basic needs of the people — be it electricity, drinking water, roads, infrastructure for hospitals and educational institutions — are not available in border villages due to the poor response from Govt. “As the civil administration has completely collapsed, it is the right time to restore the confidence of the people who are feeling sidelined with no elected representative or government in place,” he said. He said the elected government is responsible to the people as it works for them.

 “J&K Govt is working directly on the directions of BJP. Yet, the problems of the general masses remain unsolved. Instead of working for public welfare, the bureaucracy behaves like they are the Rulers while sitting in their AC rooms and avoiding addressing public issues,” he said.They must remember that they are public servants and they must not disappoint the general masses of any region or district,” he added.He said that Congress “represents the aspiration of the people from all the regions of J&K and we believe in inclusive development of all the sections of the society without any disparity.”

Bhalla said BJP “befooled the people of Jammu on the name of discrimination as it charged the atmosphere creating divisions between the two Regions”.“The BJP always claimed to be the campaign of Jammu by pretending that it was fighting against the discrimination with Jammu. However, now see the situation in Jammu today you will find the unemployed youth aspiring for various jobs are on the roads protesting for their genuine demands. The unemployment is unprecedented in J&K,” he added.He further said that the “tourism sector as well as the hotel industry and transporters has suffered losses in Jammu and other districts”.

“Tourists are nowhere in Jammu and markets are deserted. Jammu was a famous destination in the past for religious tourists. The economic condition of businessmen is worse and there is no future plans to protect the interest of Jammu. The present situation exposes the claims of BJP and the people must be aware of what BJP did with them by snatching their identity and imposing outsiders on them,” Bhalla said.

Jammu District Rural President Hari Singh Chib said that  “The time has come when people should not get exploited by the divisive forces but give a chance to Congress,” he added while asking the people to “stand up for Dogra pride and fight for their rights by supporting Congress as it represents the real aspirations of J&K”. “You see how the Account Assistants, Border Battalion, BSF, CISF, Rehber-e-Khel, Sub Inspectors of JKP, Daily Wagers and others were on the roads in support of their genuine demands. But this Government has no concern about their issues despite knowing that their policies are anti-Jammu and its people. Hence, the people must elect their own Govt which represents them and their aspirations in a real sense,” he added.

Rtd XEN Surinder Devgoda who joined Congress today expressed confidence that only Congress can address issues of J&K people and 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. He 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.

NSUI President Ajay Lakhotra said that keeping people away of democratic process is highly condemnable and shameful on the part of BJP Government while reiterating that Congress party shall continue to fight against the policies of BJP’s diversionary tactics and policies detrimental to interests of common people of 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)