People facing hardships in absence of democratic govt: Congress

Kupwara, July 30: Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee chief Vikar Rasool Wani on Sunday said the people of the UT are facing hardships in the absence of the democratic setup.
“Unfortunately, the Central government has handed over J&K to a few bureaucrats after abandoning people of their democratic rights,” Wani said while addressing a public gathering in the Machil area of north Kashmir’s Kupwara district,
He added, “Under the BJP rule, the poor and downtrodden sections are witnessing only hollow slogans and false promises, while the reality is that the BJP government at the Centre has betrayed the people and failed them on every count. The far-flung and backward areas in J&K are most neglected in every respect, be it the employment, development or other privileges which the people deserve.”
He was accompanied by senior party leaders G N Monga (Ex-MLC), Mohd Anwar Bhat, Nazir Ahmad Lone, Mir Ruvais, Abdul Wahab, Dr Gh Nabi Lone, Gulsher Khan, Bashir Ahmad Khan, Firdous Wani, Arshid Ahmad Tantray, Showket Ahmad and others, a party statement issued here said.
Addressing the gathering, the JKPCC chief cautioned the people, especially STs, Paharis, SCs and OBCs about “BJP’s designs of dividing and using them for electoral gains”.
“The Modi government at the Centre has failed to deliver on every count. BJP’s endeavors to play Pahari, ST and Hindu Muslim Card for the lust of power is highly condemnable and should work as an eye opener for the public. Apparently, J&K is under assault since the Modi government assumed power at Centre,” he said.
He appealed to the people, especially those living in the border and far-flung areas, “not to fall prey to deceitful policies” of the BJP which he said “has always played with their emotions and used them for power”.
He said the developmental process started in J&K by consecutive UPA governments has received severe setbacks. “Mere official handouts and inauguration of already sanctioned projects by UPA won’t hide the reality and the failures and mismanagement of the administration. The government is hell-bent upon misleading the people on development and employment fronts, but the matter of the fact is that J&K has been pushed to the wall with the result of people confronting economic distress, extreme unemployment and lack of development,” he said.
The JKPCC chief assured the people of Machil and other backward areas that the Congress Party shall continue to fight for their rights and the deliverance of justice. “It will always be the party’s endeavor to reach out to people in the nook and corner of J&K to address their concerns. We have served the people and we will continue to serve them, as that, Congress Party is an instrument of service to the people, which strongly believes in strengthening and serving people equally,” he said.