Jammu, Sept 26: Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) working president Raman Bhalla on Thursday condemned the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for what he described as a politics of vote bank manipulation and unfulfilled promises, saying these have left Jammu struggling.
“The youth were misled with promises of employment, yet unemployment has only increased. As for development, it is virtually nonexistent,” Bhalla said while speaking at a series of election gatherings in the RS Pura Jammu South constituency, including Barjala, Gangyal and Rampura.
He claimed that the tourism, transport, business and industrial sectors are struggling. “Many are losing their jobs while the government fails to recruit for vacant positions,” he said.
Bhalla criticised the BJP’s performance, saying the party has lost the trust and mandate of the people of Jammu. “The initial enthusiasm of 2014 has faded, leaving behind a sense of disillusionment due to the policy paralysis of the BJP-led government in Jammu & Kashmir,” he said, adding that residents feel increasingly let down as their problems accumulate.
The Congress leader said, “The BJP’s arrogance and governance failures have distanced them from their core supporters, who are now realizing the mistake of electing a party that prioritises agitation over administration. For over six decades, the BJP has exploited the sentiments of Jammu, yet when it came to delivering, they fell short.”
There is an erratic power and water supply, poor road conditions and a lack of basic amenities, he added.
The JKPCC leader mentioned the ongoing protests by daily wage workers and the plight of teachers and Anganwadi workers, who he said are bearing the brunt of the BJP’s governance failures. “Where has the compassion of the self-proclaimed messiahs of Jammu gone?” he asked.
Bhalla also questioned the BJP’s moral standing. “The party has only fostered distrust among various community segments to further its agenda,” he said. He warned against testing the spirit of unity among the people of Jammu, saying they would counter any divisive tactics.
Expressing his commitment to transforming RS Pura into a model constituency, Bhalla highlighted its potential as an economic and tourism hub near the capital city. “Together with the support of the wise people of RS Pura, we will make it a shining example of Greater Jammu,” he asserted.
“The Congress party is committed to honesty and integrity. Unlike the BJP, we will not make empty promises but will instead focus on protecting the rights of the people and ensuring their prosperity and development,” he added.
