JAMMU: JKPCC Working President Raman Bhalla today said that Congress is the only party that can restore dignity as well as protect the identity of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. This was stated by former Minister while addressing party workers at Dharap Panchayat, Miran Sahib, Kunjwani in RS Pura Jammu South constituency. Prominent among those present on the occasion include JKPCC General Secretary Satish Sharma, JKPCC General Secretary Amrit Bali, Sarpanch Kashmir Singh, Block President Sanjeev Katal, Rajinder Singh, Surinder Choudhary, Baldev Singh wazir, Sumanpreet Singh, Aman Singh, Shamsher Singh, Harjeet Singh, Charan Singh, Jasbir Singh, Tarlok Singh, Surinder Singh and others. Speaking on the occasion, Bhalla said holding the party flag high is a daunting task and that Congress’s history is rife with such numerous men who held the party flag high facing many challenges. He said that it was due to the efforts of numerous Congress workers that resulted in the restoration of democracy in J&K. Congress on account of its struggle for the protection of identity and historical individuality of the people of J&K has been immortalized in the hearts and minds of people of Jammu and Kashmir. Congress, as a natural, legitimate and powerful voice, Bhalla added, espouses the efforts and sacrifice of various workers, some celebrated and others whose names despite being worthy of all the glory that there is remain anonymous to the masses today. Bhalla said that the people of Jammu and Kashmir have always withstood all malicious attempts to engineer the breaking of their unified voice in the shape of Congress. “Regardless of intimidation, coercion and incessant contriving by anti-Jammu & Kashmir forces, the trust of people in it has been rising. From time-to-time people of J&K have asserted their authority, ownership of J&K by bringing Congress to power. For us power is not the ultimate goal, it is a medium to serve our people,” he added. Bhalla castigated BJP leadership in J&K for “rubbing salt on the wounds” of gallant Dogras by celebrating Foundation Day of UT of J&K, claiming that the day has demeaned the glory of this marshal community as the erstwhile J&K State was “cut into pieces”. He said that people having the slightest idea of the formation of the erstwhile State of J&K know well how bravely Maharaja Gulab Singh and his late General Zorawar Singh had fought to expand his empire from the boundaries of Punjab upto China and Tibet making erstwhile State of J&K including Ladakh one of the biggest states in the country (area wise). He termed it unfortunate that the local BJP leadership “backstabbed” the “valiant” people of J&K to allow the Centre to slice the State into two UTs and leave the people at the mercy of bureaucrats who uncontrolled inflation and unemployment. Bhalla said “J&K was a prosperous state but by mishandling the situation, the BJP government lowered the dignity of people by showing no inclination towards the problems being faced by the people, it has turned them into second-class citizens as for every cause whether toll plaza, smart meter mismanagement, recruitment scams, etc. they have to fight for their rights,” he said. He said that BJP leadership knows the mistakes it had committed in J&K and that is the reason it is advocating to defer polls in the region as the decimation of the saffron party is inevitable. “On one side, HM Amit Shah claims that the power in J&K has been divided into the hands of 30,000 people but on the other hand, the BJP government deliberately delayed polls fearing a debacle and in this course has dented the democracy badly,” he said. Bhalla said under the incumbent government development has become elusive with healthcare centres running without medicos, industries becoming defunct with new ventures seen nowhere. The condition of roads, electricity and water supply is also in worse conditions, he said. He said that BJP leadership has proved to be a damp squib for J&K and therefore people should give a chance to Congress to once again rectify things and restore the pristine glory of J&K and its people. Bhalla said that the party will fight for restoration of rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir if given opportunity.He asked people to make a decision if their daily life has improved after August 5, 2019 and everything is fine. “But if your life has not improved, then you need to make sure that the Congress wins with a thumping majority. If unemployment has reduced here and your children are employed, electricity supply has improved, electricity bills have come down, water supply is uninterrupted and if your roads have improved, then without doubt you should vote for them, but if everything is the opposite, then you should make Congress a success through your vote,” he said. Bhalla said that during the past years the rulers did injustice with the common people. He emphasized the significance of the upcoming assembly elections.”These elections will undoubtedly pave the way for the collective betterment of our region, provided the right choices are made by sending representatives who can truly convey the aspirations and pain of the people of Jammu region,” he stated. He criticized BJP leadership for failing to meet the hopes of the people and remaining mute spectators to the issues concerning the people of J&K.”There is a lot of pain, agony, and suffering among the people, and only those who understand it can truly speak up for them in Assembly. He urged the people to make judicious use of their votes and encouraged them to vote in large numbers, believing it to be the key to realizing the change the party has envisioned.
