Delaying elections in J&K a serious concern for people: Congress

Samba: JKPCC Working President Raman Bhalla on Wednesday said that Congress is committed to equitable development of people in all the regions of Jammu and Kashmir. He, however, said the delay in holding elections in J&K has become a serious concern for all sections of society.
“The people have equally expressed their concern, but their concerns are not being given heed. For the last more than nine years, J&K, especially Jammu plains, have suffered very badly with the slow pace of development and discrimination on implementation of developmental works,” he said.
According to a party statement, Bhalla along with other Congress leaders visited the residence of martyred Joginder Lal, head constable of Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) to express his condolence at his native village Avtal Katla in Samba district. The ITBP paramilitary personnel were providing security cover to the polling team in Chattisgarh on November 17, 2023, which was returning following the election when the blast was triggered by Naxalites. He condemned the attack on the security personnel who were providing protection to the polling team.
Meanwhile, Bhalla said the Congress Party is constantly fighting for the rights of the people of both regions. He said the delay in assembly elections is unfortunate and has hurt the basic structure and fundamental rights of the democratic institutions to have an elected government.
“The people of J&K have been discriminated against and forced to remain without an elected government. The panchayat and local body elections are a welcome step, but that does not mean the elections of J&K assemblies should be delayed with excuses having no ground,” he said.
The Congress leader said Jammu has a major role to play in upcoming elections by isolating the divisive forces that are bent upon destroying a peaceful communal atmosphere. “The political alienation of the people is widely being felt that is why there is desperation for assembly elections for the first time unlike in the past,” he said.
Bhalla added, “The historic Dogra State was downgraded into two Union Territories for the political interest after snatching all the basic rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. As the Government of India and bureaucracy are enjoying the power, they do not want assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir which is being demanded by the people of the erstwhile state from both the regions.”
He accused the BJP of allowing non-locals to extract natural resources and selling them at higher rates due to which the construction cost has increased. “This emerging situation has snatched the source of employment for hundreds of local people across Jammu and Kashmir and made them helpless,” he said and appealed to the people to give a chance to the Congress Party to form a majority government in Jammu and Kashmir.