Samba, June 16: Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) Working President Raman Bhalla on Sunday said the recent parliamentary elections have sent out a “very loud and clear” message that the premier role of Congress Party in any political set-up cannot be wished away.
“Whenever any credible authentic democratic process will be held, the results will stamp the people’s choice for Congress,” Bhalla said while addressing a public meeting at Kali Badi in Samba district.
He lauded the political sagacity of the people in lending their “wholehearted support” to Congress in the just concluded elections, which, he said, is amply reflected by the striking rate in the Jammu division. “A clear message has gone out that the next government in Jammu and Kashmir will be formed by Congress. This has unnerved all those who had written off the party because of their little political understanding and lack of connection with the people,” he added.
Bhalla said the elections have also “exposed” the Bharatiya Janata Party’s “fragility” with its “lowest winning margin”. “Such is the credibility deficit in the party that its leaders sought votes in the name of Prime Minister Narendra Modi as their individual performances have been dismal. They failed on all fronts in deliverance during the past ten years. The development and employment generation received a huge dent. The BJP also left the daily rated workers in the lurch and promises about packages proved a hoax,” he said.
The JKPCC leader described the recent vote to Congress as support for its politics of inclusiveness. “The people have vehemently rejected the politics of divide, which they feel is detrimental to harmonious growth of a healthy society,” he said, adding, “The Congress believes in service to the people, irrespective of caste, creed or religion, as they were the real fountainhead of the power.”
Bhalla accused the BJP dispensation of showing a high degree of intolerance to dissent and aversion to peaceful protests, saying this amounts to gauging democratic voice in Jammu and Kashmir. “The misgovernance of the past ten years has pushed Jammu and Kashmir decades back in respect of development and welfare of the people. Due to the wrong policies of the government, the people of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh are completely alienated. He said despite making a promise to address the political issues confronted by J&K in their tall claims, no forward movement has been made so far. As a result, human sufferings have touched the lowest depths in J&K,” he added.
Raman added, “A polarised atmosphere was created in the recently concluded elections and divisive politics was played but Congress has outplayed with the support of the general public since it is only Congress that can connect all the regions and religions across J&K.”
