Alienation among J&K people increased under BJP rule: Bhalla

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Mar 2: JKPCC working president, Raman Bhalla today appealed the people of J&K to reject the pro-rich and anti- youth, anti-farmer and anti-poor BJP for peace and prosperity in the region.
Addressing a public meeting as a part of party’s mass contact programme at Hakla village, Bhalla slammed BJP Government for using public money for polishing their own image through massive advertisement. The fact is that the BJP Government has failed to deliver to the people on all fronts and would be wiped out of J&K whenever assembly elections take place here. He said Congress will create awareness among the general public about the failures of the Government and the drawbacks of not having the status of being a state.
Bhalla said Jammu has witnessed huge setbacks due to the revocation of statehood by the BJP Government including the seizing of jobs, land and the suppression of political and civil rights. The economy has also suffered immensely due to the government’s irrational policies and decisions. Therefore, it is high time that the Centre keeps its promise of giving back statehood so that people can exercise their political rights by choosing a democratic Government. The Centre should accept the demand for restoration of statehood to J&K in the interest of the constitution and democracy, he stated.
Launching a scathing attack on the Government, Bhalla further added that without a dedicated Government elected by the people Jammu and its people are being neglected and overlooked. From national issues like skyrocketing fuel and food prices to regional issues specific to Jammu including economic exploitation in the name of toll plazas, taxes, the people have had to deal with a lot. There is zero focus on development, the Infrastructure is dying out, and people are being denied basic civic amenities like power and water. There is an urgent need for decentralization of power so that a leadership that is more privy to the issues of the region can address them and resolve them.
Bhalla further said that unemployment in J&K has reached alarming situation and this Government has failed to protect jobs of the local educated youth. He cautioned the present administration to take note of the situation as the frustration is on rise among the educated youth.
Prominent among those present on the occasion included Amrit Bali,  Gurmeet Kour, Punjab Singh, Kapoor Lal, Teja Singh and Swran Singh.