Suhail Bhat
SRINAGAR, July 29: The Congress’ Jammu and Kashmir affairs in-charge Bharatsinh Solanki today said that the BJP is attempting to run a proxy Government in J&K through the Lieutenant Governor to exploit the region’s resources.
Addressing a press conference at Congress party headquarters here, Solanki expressed bewilderment over the BJP’s desire to delay elections in order to maintain control, despite being in power at the centre for the past decade. He said that the BJP aims to exploit Jammu and Kashmir’s natural and human resources, similar to how the British exploited India during colonial times. Click here to watch video
Solanki said that the BJP’s strategy includes ensuring that any future elected Government in Jammu and Kashmir would have limited power, similar to a local municipality. “While they talk about combating terrorism, it has actually increased in both the Jammu and Kashmir regions and they have failed in sectors like health and employment,” he said.
The Congress leader said that the Supreme Court has directed that Assembly elections be held in Jammu and Kashmir. However, he claimed that the BJP is keen on continuing governance through the Lieutenant Governor. He said that the Congress party is prepared for elections, having held detailed discussions in their political affairs committee.
“Preparations are underway, but the BJP wants all powers to remain with them, having removed statehood and given full power to the LG. They want Jammu and Kashmir to function in a weaker manner than even Pondecherry, particularly in areas such as finance, defence and administrative transfers,” he said.
He emphasized the importance of representation through MLAs and criticized the BJP’s unfulfilled promises since 2019, which have further weakened the region. He mentioned that the Congress party is actively engaging with the public and drafting a manifesto that addresses local issues such as mining and electricity. Despite being a significant producer of electricity, he highlighted the irony of the high electricity costs faced by the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
