MT News Service
Jammu, January 17:
We are experiencing one of the most serious assaults upon our country’s democratic system in Indian history under BJP rule. This dangerous, baseless campaign is a tear in the fabric of our democracy that will take decades to heal and will make it difficult, if not impossible, to come together and deal with the real issues confronting us. This was observed by former Minister and senior Congress leader Raman Bhalla while interacting with prominent persons of Dharap area in Gandhi Nagar constituency. Prominent among those present on the occasion include Sarpanch Kashmir Singh, Marsha Singh, Didhar Singh, Kernal Singh, Sajjan Singh, Narinder Singh, Jarnail Singh, Ranjeet Singh, Surjeet Singh, Jagtar Singh, Jujhar Singh beside others.
Speaking on the occasion, Bhalla criticised BJP Govt at the Centre for its failure to provide Government jobs to youth of country in general and of J&K in particular besides depriving unemployed of desired jobs. He said that BJP led Government at the Centre befooled the masses with its lies and bogus assurances besides its UT leadership misled innocent youth on name of jobs.“General public is fed up with these lies and bogus plans narrated by Central leadership,” he said, adding “BJP already knew they could never fulfill promise of jobs they made with educated people of J&K. Making of these fake promises was just to gain power,” he asserted. Lambasting BJP leadership, Bhalla said that the party has played with future of youth as J&K facing is immense problems due to lack of employment policy and anti-youth policies of BJP.
Taking a dig at Union Govt, Bhalla claimed that Jammu region is reeling under shortage of various basic requirements but Govt is unmoved. He observed that BJP regime has antagonized all sections of people whether it is the youth, government employees, women or even children, this government has hurt every section of the society. Former Minister said Government has totally lost its credibility due to its mis-governance, which led to the failure of government on all the fronts. He said problems like lack of basic amenities, unemployment and inflation in the J&K forced the common man to live in miserable conditions. He pointed out that there was total chaos and confusion among people as BJP leadership has failed to remove peoples’ apprehensions. “On the one hand, there is complete uncertainty in J&K, while on the other hand people are confronting with failure of the administration to solve day today problems”, he said. He reiterated his pledge to continue his crusade against the discrimination unless all the aspirations of the people were addressed and fulfilled in letter and spirit.
Former Minister expressed anguish over the ongoing anti-working class policies of Central Government which are causing innumerable hardships on the lives of common people in general and the working class in particular. Bhalla said that the alarming unemployment, price rise of essential commodities, large scale disinvestment of public sector units, attack on social security system like pension, amendment in labour laws in favour of corporate, outsourcing, unbundling of Govt departments in a massive way with the abolition of permanent post has caused large scale resentment among the employees/ workers in almost all sectors. Nothing has been done in the housing and urban development sector which could be instrumental in ensuring that the people of the state get quality facilities of modern urban living, failed to ensure J&K comes up as one of the model UT in the country,” he said. Bhalla said that present dispensation is turning a blind eye towards the apprehensions and concerns of people of the State, especially Jammu region. Former Minister said the problems in Jammu have been complicated further by the activities of vested interests in the Govt who have preferred to get personal benefits while sacrificing the bigger cause of the people of this region. Bhalla said that this party has betrayed people of Jammu region as nothing has been done to solve their day to day problems. BJP creating hype and plunging J&K into uncalled for controversies over issues which are no way connected either with governance or the much hyped development,” he said. J&K over the course of a year has seen massive protests, demonstrations and strikes against BJP from different groups of people for their anti-people and anti-Jammu policies.” From economic distress to emerging social disparities to outright suppression of democratic rights, J&K has been suffering terribly, he added. He expressed concerns that each section of society in J&K has felt betrayed and cheated by BJP Government and administration. “From 2019 to present time, a wave of protests by varied segments of our population has expressed strong concerns regarding one or another issue. From farmers, daily-wagers to unemployed engineers, the only option left for them is to protest,” he added. Bhalla said that casual labourers and daily-wagers of all Government departments have been drastically affected by overdue payments, lack of regularisation measures, regional-biased employment opportunities apart from pandemic. He urged that demands of various protesting groups such as PDD and PHE workers be accepted at the earliest. He further said that after numerous strikes, protests and demonstrations, the Government still failed to address their issues. He further elaborated that even Transport Unions have been forced to go on strikes over economic package; because transporters are overburdened due to heavy taxations apart from prevailing COVID-19 situation. J&K forest employees union also protested for unpaid salaries, he added.He said that people’s dissatisfaction and disappointment against BJP is immense, as promises have been broken and lies have been said.He said that the party will show solidarity to all those who have been wronged by Government and will strive to help these people amplify their voices.
Bhalla said that Congress has remained on the forefront for highlighting the issues of people of J&K. He highlighted the UPA-I & UPA-II governments who extended all sorts of help to erstwhile state government for addressing the issues of different sections of the society and remarkable development took place in Jammu and Kashmir during UPA regime at the Centre. Former Minister maintained that it was the Congress party alone which has taken care urges and aspirations of the people without any discrimination. Bhalla also said Congress will continue to fight against the wrong policies of BJP and won’t compromise on people’s wishes and rights. Congress believes in transparent and principle based politics, won’t compromise on the urges and aspirations of the people ,” he said.”People of Jammu and Kashmir have been pushed to wall in the name of development by the BJP, while as, the latter was working to implement its political agenda, which is divisive and anti-people, responsible for the crisis and restlessness is J&K and across the country,” Bhalla said. BJP has mastered the art of spreading lies. “Ever since BJP came to power it has been using institutions to further its own interests rather than that of the nation subverting all established constitutional norms and ethics.
