MT News Service
Jammu, October 22:
Former Minister and senior Congress leader Raman Bhalla on Thursday today launched a scathing attack on the BJP government, alleging that every section of the society, including farmers, traders and government employees were fed up with this “anti-people” dispensation.This was observed by former Minister while interacting with aggrieved persons of Dharap Panchayat in Shergarh area of Gandhi Nagar constituency. Prominent among those present on the occasion include Sarpanch Kashmir Singh, Mustaq Choudhary Tinni, Panch Soma Debi, Panch Ashwani Kumar, Pawan Kumar, Chander Singh, Surinder Singh, Davinder Singh beside others.He said that the poor-sections of the society are suffering a lot due to mis-rule of both Central and State Governments, which are led by BJP.He asked the people that if they want to mitigate their suffering they must come under the banner of Congress Party whose leaders have sacrificed their whole life for the upliftment of poor masses of India. Senior Congress leader accused the BJP Government of befooling the people of J&K by its false claims of development. Bhalla lashed out at BJP for abandoning people with their problems being related to the basic amenities during its nightmarish rule, saying the promises made during 2014 Parliamentary and Assembly elections proved just hoax. He said that BJP did nothing for the people except generating passions on religious and regional lines. He said the people have been living miserable life during the past more than six years, with nobody addressing their problems.
Bhalla launched a scathing attack against the BJP over the amendment in the J&K Panchayati Raj Act, 1989 and claimed it was another attempt to further delay the assembly polls in the Union Territory.“BJP does not want to face the people in the assembly elections as it apprehends backlash over its anti-people decisions and policies which deprived the people of their identity and special rights to jobs and land,” he said.Bhalla questioned the basis and criteria for the equal number of 14 seats in each DDC for each district, ignoring the area and population of the districts besides selective “intrusions” of certain provisions. “It is another attempt to further delay the assembly elections and also deprive the existing block development councils (BDCs) from the rights already vested in them because a majority of them have non-BJP affiliations. How is it justified to have equal number of seats in larger districts like Jammu which has eight rural assembly segments and those districts having only two assembly segments?” Bhalla asked.Taking a dig at the BJP, the Congress leader said the ruling party at the Centre always talked of fairness in delimitation of assembly and Lok Sabha seats, but “failed to ensure justice and fairness in the delimitation of DDC seats based on population, area and topography.” He also alleged that the most important components of the 73rd amendment like an independent election commission, finance commission and ombudsman were left out.
Bhalla alleged that Jammu people are upset over BJP’s failure to address key issues of the region.People of the region who complain of “neglect” were hopeful that the party would restore their dignity and honour. But BJP has lost the trust of the people by ignoring their sentiments and aspirations of people of whole Jammu region,” he said, adding that the Jammu had sent 25 BJP MLAs to the Legislative Assembly but all of them gone in forgetfulness and looked least interested in raising the issues which turn the skin of a common man in Jammu.
Bhalla said that Congress alone can ensure equitable development while keeping a close focus on neglected, remote and backward areas. He said Congress represents each and every section, region and religion of the society and has the vision, policies and programs for the welfare and unification of people of different shades.
While speaking on the occasion, Bhalla elaborated how the farmers in the country are being cheated in land acquisition bill which is purely an attempt of BJP to give benefit to corporate houses who helped the BJP to come in power.
The Govt at the Centre and UT administration is choosing the opportunity to take certain decisions against the wishes and aspirations and interests of the general people, taking advantage of the situation on account of COVID crisis, forcing the people to protest and come on roads.
Lashing out at BJP, Bhalla said, “Before the parliamentary elections, the party had assured the people that if the BJP came to power, truckloads of financial help would be brought to J&K to make it prosperous, but instead of getting more financial assistance, the NDA government has actually snatched power to manage two time meals from common man. Congress leader said that this Government has left no stone unturned to destroy democratic institutions.
He stressed that the J&K needed fair and strong constitutional institutions. BJP Government has only given rise to a situation of uncertainty, chaos and confusion, Bhalla said. He said J&K was passing through the “worst ever misrule.
There is total policy paralysis due to inherent contradictions and divergent vested political interests, he said.The Congress leader said BJP government has failed to address political and developmental aspirations of the people in J&K. “Similarly, the problems of daily rated workers and other segments of employees are yet to be sorted out,” Bhalla maintained.He alleged that the insensitive government has failed to release salaries and wages to employees. “Youths who were promised two crore jobs are still unemployed and feel betrayal by BJP. Back to Village programme of the government is a futile exercise and an avoidable wasteful expenditure,” Bhalla said adding that ground reports suggest no developmental activity in villages as there were no funds with Panchayats.Bhalla said the economy in Jammu and Kashmir has been badly hit with all sectors — from handicrafts, tourism to transport — are suffering.
Former Minister lamented that unemployment and inflation in Jammu and Kashmir were all time high, financial health of the people was not good while the present pandemic has snatched away the source of livelihood from billions.
“Thousands of youth have gone jobless and their families are at the verge of starvation,” he said and demanded emergency measures to ensure no more job loss in all the sectors.He also urged upon the administration to streamline the salaries of all daily rated workers as they were not been paid for months and sometimes years together. He also urged the administration to regularize the services of all daily-rated workers to secure their future.
The former Minister also demanded recruitment notification for vacancies of all the departments which are lying vacant since long to absorb educated youth that will also help in lowering down unemployment.
The prices of food grains have been rising continuously. The government should do something in this direction. Only then the real welfare of the masses can be ensured”, added Bhalla .While alleging BJP for hypocrisy over the inflation, Bhalla said that when the party was in opposition, its front line leaders wasted no time to lodge series of protest demonstrations at every nook and corner of the country against the price rise of essential commodities but now when the party came in power for the last 6 years, the inflation rate had peaked all time high and broken all records with none of its leaders uttering a word over the soaring prices.
Seeking emergency measures to ensure no more job loss because of pandemic situation, said that unemployment and inflation, which are all time high in India, have pushed people to the verge of starvation where poor are attempting suicides.
