Jammu, Aug 10: Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) working president Raman Bhalla on Thursday said Congress is the “only truly secular, democratic and progressive force” which can keep J&K on the path of peace, progress and harmony” while the “forces of hatred” would create a wedge in society and regions for vote bank politics.
The party in a statement said that several prominent people on Thursday joined Congress in the presence of Raman Bhalla. Welcoming them into the party fold, Bhalla said the people of Jammu and Kashmir were expressing their “pain and anguish” against the BJP government and its “anti-people” policies. “Their induction into the party would further strengthen Congress in J&K,” he said.
The JKPCC leader on the occasion said, “Modi government has utterly failed to bring the prices under control. The common man is suffering due to unprecedented prices of all essential commodities and unreasonable taxes. All sections of society are the worst sufferers under the BJP regime. Lakhs of educated youths are without jobs while the daily wagers, need-based, contractual and other temporary employees are protesting for regularization.”
“This callous government has not moved even an inch to address this burning issue and infect busy in poll campaigns least bothering about grievances of the common man. It divided the country on communal lines for vote bank politics. The government, after coming into power, had been increasing the prices of oil, gas and electricity,” he added.
Bhalla said Congress is fast emerging as the “only choice of people” because of its progressive, democratic and secular policies. He said secularism is the strength of the Indian nation and only Congress can lead the erstwhile state and the nation to the path of peace, progress and prosperity by strengthening the secular fabric and maintaining communal harmony, he said, adding that the grand old party is a force to reckon with.
He added, “There is no place for politics of exploitation and negative politics, as people of the erstwhile state appreciate and participate in the vibrant democracy of this great nation for a better future and good governance. However until the status of statehood with all consequential rights and the popular government is restored, the people’s unrest will not end.”
Bhalla appealed to the people to look back at the history of traditional harmony, peace and secularism and reject the forces of exploitation and hatred for a better future.
