JKPCC Working President Raman Bhalla Friday said that Congress party is the only secular alternative acceptable to people in J&K and urged its cadres to strength it. This was stated by former Minister Bhalla while taking stock of the organizational affairs and activities in Jammu region and urged upon the party cadres to work for the wellbeing of the people, as the Congress is the only secular alternative acceptable to people in J&K. He described Congress party as a vibrant situation in J&K and asked the party cadres to strengthen Congress under the young and dynamic leadership of Rahul Gandhi. He urged the cadres to strengthen the party and expose the failures and wrong policies of BJP govt in J&K, which is responsible for the current situation prevailing in J&K. Bhalla while speaking on the occasion expressed serious concern over the extremely volatile situation in J&K describing it as fall out of wrong policies adopted by both J&K and Central Governments as a result, the situation has turned from bad to worse, besides vitiating atmosphere of peace and tranquility in the State especially in Valley.He also apprised the gathering about Congress party’s efforts for restoration of peace, although the situation in the Valley is so grim, but the Congress party is working for peace. “Congress Party being the only unifying force in the country and State will continue to work for peace and stability,” he said. Reiterating that Congress has bigger responsibilities at national and international level, the former Minister today claimed that his Party was the only alternative before people of Jammu and Kashmir for getting their regional aspirations fulfilled. He said that Congress is the only option left before the people of Jammu and Kashmir. He said people have bitter experience of Double Engine Govt of BJP. Bhalla alleged that BJP betrayed the massive mandate of the people of Jammu & by dividing and downgrading the Princely Historical state of Jammu and Kashmir into 2 Unions territories. He said the people of Jammu & Kashmir are feeling deceived & disgusted by BJP’s uncalled for moves in J&K, the people of Jammu, especially Youth are feeling robbed of their jobs, land and BJP has pushed the people towards Identity & Culture crisis. PCC leader said it is extraordinary that on 5th of August 2019, two UT’s were carved out of Princely state Jammu and Kashmir, and Domicile replaced ladakh and PRC. The people of Ladakh, to protect jobs of youth, land, Identity & Culture, rejected it and they were given a permanent resident certificate. Bhalla demanded that the people of Jammu and Kashmir also be given permanent resident certificates instead of Domicile so that jobs, land, culture and identity of Jammu and Kashmir be saved. People of Jammu and Kashmir are fed up with the hollow slogans and Jumla politics of BJP. Bhalla said that J&K has peculiar issues since independence because of its geography as well as cultural diversity and these concerns cannot be addressed while sitting in New Delhi.Maintaining that State BJP has no effective leader and has been got exposed because of their misdeeds during the last seven years, he stressed that Congress was the only and most suitable alternative for a Government in Jammu and Kashmir State. In this situation, BJP’s target of 50, people will also show that their claim of 50 is a big Jumla. People will give their full support to the Congress being a time tested Party that can feel the pulse of the people and fulfil the genuine urges and aspirations of the people,, especially youth. He also demanded full-fledged statehood for Jammu and Kashmir before holding Assembly Elections to give statehood after elections is just to put the cart before the horse. Bhalla claimed that Congress, during its tenure had proved how to provide pro-people governance to the people by bringing total transparency and accountability in the functioning of the Government. We set an example of good governance during Congress’s regime wherein every individual was provided with the equal opportunity of growth and development”, he said. Reiterating his resolve to institutionalize transparency and accountability in the governance, Bhalla said that the Congress had shown the way for strengthening democratic and constitutional institutions in the State by initiating various revolutionary steps during its tenure in the power. Complimenting people for their patience, Bhalla said that the trust and confidence shown by people in his party was the guiding force to transform Jammu and Kashmir as an island of peace and prosperity. Bhalla urged the centre to first grant Jammu and Kashmir statehood and then conduct elections. “Don’t make the mistake of carrying out delimitation first and then giving statehood,” he said. Our demand remains that first statehood should be granted and that should be followed by elections,” he said. Bhalla said that the state had lost a great lot since its division. “We were told that the scene in Jammu & Kashmir will change after making J&KUT and Growth, hospitals, unemployment will be taken care of. But that has not happened at all. As a matter of fact, we were far better off when it was being ruled by various chief ministers, Bhalla said. So, we are a great loser. We have been a great loser after the state’s division into two parts. We have been a great loser ever since the Assembly was dissolved,” he added.
