J&K people caught between 2 power centres without statehood: Karra

Jammu, May 20: Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) president Tariq Hameed Karra Wednesday alleged that the people of J&K, caught between two power centres, were suffering as the central government was not “restoring the promised statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.”

Addressing workers’ convention at TalabTillo Jammu, JKPCC president lashed out at the BJP for, what he claimed, “betraying the people of J&K over statehood, after failing to get majority in assembly elections to form the government.”

“People are the worst sufferers of the dual control system, which is a negation of the mandate of people,” he alleged. Reference was also to the demolition drive in Sidhra.

A team of senior Congress leaders including JKPCC working president Raman Bhalla, former ministers Mula Ram, Yogesh Sawhney, Gurbachan Rana, Abdul MajeedWani, chief spokesperson Ravinder Sharma, ex DCC president Manmohan Singh and former MLCs Ved Mahajan and Subash Gupta besides others accompanied Karra in the convention.

The workers’ convention was part of “SangathanSrijanAbhiyan” dedicated to the week-long commemoration of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi’s martyrdom.

The programme was organised by senior party leader Sanjeev Panda and ex-councillorSonika Sharma along with block and ward committees of the party.

Karra alleged, “Jammu region, especially Kathua, Samba, Jammu, Udhampur and Reasi districts are the worst affected due to policies of BJP and LG administration in the aftermath of downgrading of statehood and abrogation of special status. The youth are getting deprived of jobs at the cost of outside candidates. Locals were losing their land beside natural resources like sand, bajri, forest products to outsiders.”

Karra maintained that Congress was fighting for statehood under “HamariRiyasat, HamaraHaq” through “GharGharDastak, HarGharDastak” to awaken people, as without statehood, they (people) would not get back their snatched democratic rights.

Referring to strengthening of the party at grass roots levels, he stressed for strengthening booths and appointment of BLAs and booth committees in order to defeat BJP. “There is no match to Congress philosophy and inclusive policies and programmes. But the party at grassroot level needs to be activated,” he added.

Working president Raman Bhallacriticised the BJP for, what he alleged, “following the politics of hate and communalism and targeting particular sections of society for vote bank politics.”

“It is dangerous for the society and nation. Congress firmly stands for secular and inclusive policies to strengthen the social and secular fabric of the society and maintain harmony and peace. Under the BJP regime, Jammu has become a hub of drug and wine mafia. The frustrated youth without jobs are getting attracted towards drugs,” Bhalla claimed.

Former minister Mula Ram asked the workers to unitedly strengthen the organisation at grass roots and ensure involvement of youth, women SC, ST and OBCs etc.

Former minister Yogesh Sawhney too accused the BJP of betraying the people of Jammu after getting full mandate in the name of statehood, jobs, clean and honest administration.

Manmohan Singh appreciated the party workers for remaining committed to the party and serving people. He said Congress would emerge stronger in next elections as people understood BJP’s deceptive politics. Later, while addressing the media, JKPCC working president, chief spokesperson and former minister Yogesh Sawhney questioned “bulldozer politics” being resorted to by the administration in Sidhra.

“Encroachers should be removed following due legal process but the people, who had been living there for decades, should not be evicted in such a barbaric manner. This is a violation of the Forest Rights Act and other legal provisions. We are reiterating that the people are suffering due to the dual-control system,” they alleged.