Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 24: Describing emergence of communal forces as a serious threat to uniqueness of the State’s pluralistic ethos, former Minister and senior Congress leader Raman Bhalla today expressed concern over the politically frustrated elements hell bent to weaken the secular forces in State.
Mr Bhalla stated this while welcoming new entrants to Congress at a specially held function at Narwal Bala, Bye Pass here this morning. He said that the basic needs of one’s life are becoming unaffordable day by day due to soaring inflation. And the worst hit are the housewives, whose monthly budget has gone awry due to spiraling price hike of vegetables, pulses, edible oil and fruit due to inflation. Households in the city as well are finding it hard to manage their monthly budget. Skyrocketing rates of food articles like wheat, rice and pulses have adversely affected the public budgets.
Maintaining that a majority of students in J&K still depend on Government schools, State Government has failed in working towards the right to education of an average student. Acknowledging that the Government-run schools have a lot of scope for improvement, Bhalla demanded Government to work on model schools where children, especially from underprivileged background, can reap benefits with proper facilities. Bhalla strongly condemned the closure of 1300 Primary schools, mostly in Jammu region.
Referring to the turmoil in Kashmir, he said that progress can be achieved only when normalcy prevails. He said that Jammu and Kashmir is known for its glorious pluralistic traditions. He added that issues have to be resolved through discussion and dialogue. Bhalla said that the situation in the State in the past one year has adversely affected development and there is need for redoubling the efforts to make good this loss. He blamed Coalition Government of worsening economic and political condition of the capital city because of their neglect and lack of vision.
Asserting that people are suffering badly in absence of basic facilities in remote areas, Bhalla said that Government machinery is nowhere visible on ground. The tall claims of Coalition about good governance and development were only to lure the voters for the sake of power. He said Congress would not allow any sort of discrimination with any section of the society.
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