Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, Dec 14: Hitting hard the BJP and its state leadership for cheating the people of Jammu for the alleged `sell out’ to the Valley based party for the lust of money, former Union Health Minister and Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Ghulam Nabi Azad today said that the BJP has lost the moral right to go to Jammu people for seeking vote.
” Bika Hua Kabhi Kharid Dar Nahin Ho Sakta. Kis Muhun Se Abh BJP Wale Jammu ke Logon ke Samney Vote Mangne Jaten Hain. Unhon Ne Tau Jammu ke Logon se Voton Ka Sauda Kar Diya. Kuch Noton ki Khatir, Unke Bharose ka Qatl Kar Diya. Unhon Ne to Peeth Mein Chhura Ghonpne Ka Kaam Kiya. Abh Kaun Sa Muhun Le Ke Ye Vote Mangne Ja Rahe Hain,” Mr Azad said these words while addressing public rallies at Raipura-Domana, Marh, Bishnah, Hiranagar, Basohli and R S Pura constituencies today.
Firing a salvo on the BJP leadership, Mr Azad said in 2008, they exploited the religious sentiments of the people, created law and order problem and managed to grab 11 Assembly seats at the cost of Congress Party. The innocent people of Jammu gave them over whelmed support but within one year, their true colours got exposed after their seven MLAs voted in favour of Valley based party (NC), in the MLCs elections, taking huge bribe. This case is known to all. They went to such a low level that ignoring the aspirations and wishes of the Jammu people for the sake of some `pieces of papers’ (currency notes), they sold out to the Kashmir based party even voted against own party.
Interestingly, the party which is making tall claims to bring corruption to an end, has taken these tainted people back to the party fold. They betrayed the people of Jammu. The Jammu people are now realizing their mistake committed in 2008 as these people who were sent by the voters to raise their voice in the Legislative Assembly, kept mum and the public voice remained unheard for six long years. It is hoped that the people of Jammu will surely correct the past mistake and reject such opportunists and exploiters and show them their place in the elections.
Taking a dig at the Ministers of NDA Government for their vain attempts to gain power in J&K, Azad said, “if there were support in favour of BJP, what was the need for a battalion of top Central Ministers like External Affairs Minister, Finance Minister, Home Minister, Defence Minister, Health Minister, and other Ministers to be stationed in Jammu and hold street meetings in every nook and corner of the State”, adding that it seems they have no time and commitment for the welfare of the people & country, and that electioneering, not governance is a priority for the NDA Government at the Centre.
Asserting that there is no public support for BJP in J&K, Azad said that is why a battery of Central BJP leaders and a huge contingent of actors and actresses, who are reluctant to show a glimpse on television even after charging crores of rupees, are thronging the streets and lanes of Jammu, Kathua and Samba.
While appreciating the Prime Minister’s repeated visits to J&K, Azad said that being Prime Minister of the country, it is our good fortune that he comes so often, but his visits have not brought any respite to the common man of the State and that most of the times he has visited either to inaugurate the projects completed by UPA Government or seek votes from the public, adding that this is not supposed to be the primary job of the Prime Minister.
“This is an election for the State Assembly and people are going to elect the Chief Minister and the State Government”, said Azad.
Launching scathing attack on Prime Minister, Azad said that BJP has lowered down its standard to such an extent that its Prime Minister is now going to `every street’ and village to seek vote. “Have you ever seen the former Congress Prime Ministers like Indira Gandhi, Dr Manmohan Singh or even Sonia Gandhi going to every lane or by-lane like Modi Saheb to seek vote? They never went like this. They (BJP) have realized that people are not going to be befooled any more. A hollow vessel makes much noise,” Mr Azad remarked.
” Modi Saheb made huge claims of bringing back the black money, control price hike, eliminate corruption, termed Dr Manmohan Singh Manmohan Singh as weak Prime Minister, teach lesson to Pakistan and so on. What is the result before you in last six months. It is big zero. There is no control on essential commodities, ceasefire violations and infiltration increased, industrial growth has fallen and GDP also gone down. But growth has been witnessed in one thing that is Modi Ji’s rallies, his `Bhashan’, ” Azad maintained.
Accusing BJP and Narendra Modi for taking U-turn on their core issues, Azad said for the last 67 years, the party and its leaders were befooling and exploiting the people on Article 370. They claimed that if BJP came to power the Article 370 would be scrapped. ” I ask them what happened to Art 370 when Atal Behari Vajpayee was Prime Minister? Now, Modi ji have come to power, why he and other BJP leaders have gone silent on Article 370? They owe a reply to the people of this State whom they exploited for six long decades for vote bank,” Azad added.
“People of the State and especially from Jammu region are feeling cheated once again as they (BJP) have exploited them for the last over 67 years on the issue of Article 370, and now, for the sake of power BJP has removed the issue even from its manifesto,” the AICC leader said.
“UPA Government was dubbed as ‘inefficient’, ‘weak’, ‘indecisive’ and at times ‘traitor’ by the BJP leadership on ceasefire violations, but ever since it has come to power in the Centre, there is no pause in the ceasefire violations and war like situation was witnessed in the month of August 2014″, Azad said.
Questioning the NDA Govt Azad said, ” Scores of Army and security jawans have been killed on the borders and in terrorist violence, our innocent civilians have lost lives on the borders and Prime Minister and the BJP Government try to console the people of the State by calling them ‘brave’ and showing lip sympathy”, said Azad adding that where are those tall claims of BJP leadership which it used to make before coming to power at the Centre”?
Launching a broadside against NDA, Azad sought to know the stand of BJP on Article 370, on incidents of firing by Pakistan, the upsurge in terrorist related incidents, including two fidayeen attacks in Jammu as well as in Kashmir.
Coming down heavily on BJP leadership for indulging into misinformation campaign against Congress, Azad pointed out that “Who provided basic facilities to the people since Independence? Who raised such a vast infrastructure like Hospitals, Government buildings? Who laid Rail lines? Which party ensured Air Services across the country and abroad? Who brought Green Revolution in the Country? Who brought IT revolution? It is all due to the concerted efforts of great leaders like Prime Ministers Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru, Rajiv Gandhi, Indira Gandhi, Manmohan Singh that India is on the path of prosperity.”
“What BJP is doing? It is just inaugurating the mega projects which were built and completed by Congress party,” pointed out Mr Azad and further added that “In Jammu and Kashmir also we initiated big infrastructure projects in all the three regions of the state. You see Hospitals, road connectivity, schools, Degree Colleges, University campuses, Medical Colleges, widening of Jammu-Srinagar national highway, numerous drinking water supply schemes, power supply to all almost every village and remote belt of the state. It is not BJP but tireless efforts of Congress party that the people of the State are on the path of development and prosperity. ”
Lashing out at BJP for its divisive politics, Azad said that “political parties like BJP, who have nothing to offer to the people and have done nothing for the welfare of the State, just fall back upon religion and caste lines to muster support to grab power. Use of religion and caste during elections is fatal for democracy. They are taking credit of the projects initiated by UPA and now induling in `cutting Fitta’,” Azad said.
Seeking vote in favour of Jagdish Raj Sapolia from Basohli, Girdhari Lal Chalotra from Hiranagar, Balwan Singh from Marh, Gulchain Singh Charak from Bishnah and Suman Bhagat from R S Pura Mr azad said said that people should vote for Congress party on its development plank.
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