Gopal Sharma
-Excelsior/ Harbhajan
SRINAGAR/JAMMU, Nov 25: For the first time in last six years of Congress-NC alliance in the Jammu and Kashmir, the All India Congress Committee (AICC) vice president Rahul Gandhi today launched attack on the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah alleging that he has failed on all the fronts in providing good governance in the State.
Addressing large elections rallies at Lolab (Kupwara) in North Kashmir and Poonch in Jammu region today, Rahul Gandhi said, “Coalition system of Government has not proved good for the people of J&K.”
“The Government failed to deliver. It was lethargic and did not fulfill the people’s aspirations,” Rahul maintained.
Claiming that Congress Government was serious to implement its programme of connectivity in the State, which according to him helped the people of Kashmir to reach the markets outside the State. He said that the biggest achievement of the Congress Government in New Delhi was to create an atmosphere of peace in the State. He asked the people of Kashmir to vote for Congress so that it can form strong Government on its own.
Lashing out at Bharatiya Janata Party for denying relief to the flood victims of the State, All India Congress Committee vice president Rahul Gandhi said that Modi Govt preferred some ‘blue eyed’ industrialists over the flood victims of Kashmir and tried to dilute the laws and bills enacted by the UPA Government.
Mr Gandhi further alleged that Modi Government failed to restore relief and rehabilitation work in Kashmir and other parts of the J&K State. He said the flood victims are suffering for want of much needed relief. A large number of people have lost their homes and everything in the flood. The BJP leadership made loud announcements of offering them relief telling `sky is the limit’ but they were only offered lip sympathy. They were not provided even Rs 1000 crore relief while Adani, a favourite industrialist of Modi was offered Rs 6000 crore loan for a project in Australia.
“When Modi went to Australia, Adani Sahib accompanied him and the State Bank now is giving him Rs 6000 crore loan. It is unfortunate that Rs 1000 crore aid for the flood affected people of State as promised by the Prime Minister has not been released,” Mr Gandhi said.
“Modi ji used to say to the people, Achhe Din Aane Wale Hein but …Achhe Din Tau Siraf Udyogpatiyon ke Hi Nazar Aate Hain, Gareebon ke Nahi” Mr Gandhi said adding that they believe in carrying castles in the sky but ground reality is some thing different.
Launching frontal attack on BJP led regime at the centre, Rahul Gandhi said the UPA Government brought many reforms and enacted Bills and Acts like, RTI, Right to Work (MG-NREGA), Right to Education, Food Security Bill etc but unfortunately, BJP led Government was trying to dilute and weaken these pieces of legislation. These bills were brought to benefit the common man but Modi Government was diluting them.
Referring to the alleged failure of BJP led Government to keep check on the price hike, Rahul Gandhi said potatoes were Rs 8 per kg in April 2014, hardly a week before the taking over the regime by NDA Government, the rate has reached Rs 32 per kilogram. No relief has been provided to the common man. They claimed price hike in every sphere but could they control this inflation the people must ask them?
Commenting on the surge of militancy in the State, Rahul said the during previous NDA Government lot of deaths of women and children used to take place in Kashmir but after the UPA came to power in 2004 thereafter the militancy started declining and now almost peace has been restored in the State. This credit of restoring peace in the State goes to UPA regime.
Mr Gandhi said the Congress led regime when Mr Azad was Chief Minister witnessed massive development in the State. Many big projects were conceived and taken up during that period in the State and UPA offered huge funding. Good governance, fast track development, peace and prosperity is the Mantra of the Congress. The UPA gave Rs 5000 crore to the State for infrastructure development, Rs 4000 crore for Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, Rs 650 crore for Mughal Road which is complete now and connects Poonch- Rajouri with the Kashmir valley. The UPA Govt sanctioned Banihal and Zojila Tunnels. If the Congress Government comes to power here, we will provide rice at the rate of Rs 3 per kg to the people with the implementation of Food Security Bill, the work on five UPA sanctioned Medical Colleges and two cancer hospitals will be completed on war footing.
While referring to the comprehensive settlement of the issues of displaced persons from PoK/ West Pakistan, Mr Gandhi said it took over three years to the Congress to convince alliance partner (NC) for the approval of the package for refugees and when the State Cabinet approved the one time package and sent it to the Centre, the BJP led regime has now returned it to the State. The BJP had claimed during Lok Sabha polls to resolve the issues of refugees but this act fully exposed the party indicating that there is lot of difference between the words and deeds of the BJP.
Referring to party’s resolve to strengthen Panchayati Raj system, AICC leader said that most of the provisions of 73rd amendment have been incorporated on the State Panchayati Raj Act. The party is committed to fully empower the Panchayati Raj system in the State after coming to power.
AICC general secretary Ambika Soni, PCC president Prof Saif-ud-Din Soz, Ex-MP Madan Lal Sharma and party candidate from Poonch Ch Bashir Naz also addressed the gathering and sought support for the Congress Party. They claimed that only Congress can ensure better development in the State. They also referred to the party manifesto and claimed that it includes the aspirations of the people from all the three regions and sub-regions of the State.
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