Jammu, June 19: “The wave of youth euphoria that BJP rode since 2014 appears to be ebbing. Nine years into the Modi government, India’s youth appears disappointed and frustrated. The ruling government at the Centre has attained expertise in making big claims but on ground, its performance is dismal with people suffering on all counts as civic edifice, healthcare, education, employment, tourism, and businesses are all passing through an abysmal phase,” said Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) working president Raman Bhalla on Monday.
According to a party statement, Bhalla was interacting with Bahu Fort Mohalla Manhas Ghar Youth President, Dewan Chand besides hundreds of youth from the area who visited him at his residence to project youth’s burning issues under the BJP government.
The JKPCC leader said unemployment is a major problem in J&K-UT. “According to a 2022 report by the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO), the unemployment rate in J&K-UT was 17.5%, which is much higher than the national average of 7.5%. The unemployment rate is even higher among youth, with 25.5% of young people in J&K-UT unemployed,” he said.
Bhalla further said, “After importing bloodshed in J&K through proxy-war, Pakistan is now spoiling the younger generation of the (State) through Narco terrorism which is more dangerous than proxy-war. During the last decade, Pakistani authorities indulged in importing drugs into J&K in general and the Jammu region in particular to spoil the new generation.”
He said drug abuse is not only a menace but part of the “nefarious designs” to spoil the younger generation. “Every day, we are getting shocking information about deaths of youth from different parts of the Jammu region. The helpless parents are approaching me to save their wards from this menace,” he said, adding that police are working to eradicate this menace. He called on youth not to fall into the trap of drug abuse and to work for nation-building.
Bhalla asked the people to strengthen the hands of Congress leadership saying only this party can fulfill the aspiration of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
