Jammu, Feb 12: The president of the Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC), Tariq Hameed Karra, announced a 15-day campaign aimed at advocating for the restoration of statehood to the Union Territory.
He stated that the campaign would commence from Udhampur district on February 13, emphasizing that the “BJP has yet to fulfill its promise regarding statehood restoration, raising doubts about their intentions.”
Karra, who also serves as an MLA, noted the growing skepticism among the people of Jammu and Kashmir, who are voicing concerns after engaging in democratic processes in hopes of remedying their daily problems.
“The quest for restoration of statehood remains a pivotal matter both leading up to and following the assembly elections. We have reminded the Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) and Home Minister (Amit Shah) of the commitments made within and outside Parliament, as well as on the ground in J&K,” Karra stated.
“We demand the immediate restoration of our statehood. The government’s unclear stance on the ‘appropriate time’ for granting this right to the people of J&K has eroded our trust, making us question their motives,” he told reporters.
He accused the ruling party at the Centre of ‘betraying the people’ of Jammu and Kashmir, asserting that the BJP leadership must ответить for the prolonged delay in reinstating statehood.
“We are intensifying our campaign for the restoration of statehood, a tradition rooted in the 175-year-old Dogra legacy that the BJP seems to mock. Our ‘restore our statehood’ campaign will kick off tomorrow (Thursday) in Udhampur under the slogan ‘our state, our right,’” he continued.
The Congress leader also paid tribute to two army personnel, including a captain, who lost their lives in an IED attack near the LoC in the Akhnoor sector of Jammu on Tuesday, remarking that “such occurrences undermine the government’s claims that the situation is stable.” He added, “Killings of security personnel and civilians occur frequently. While we unequivocally condemn the heinous act in (Akhnoor), mere condemnation will not resolve the issue,” stressing that security forces operate directly under the Centre’s command, which must confront the rising tide of terrorist incidents.
Karra called for a judicial inquiry into the recent suicide of a young man allegedly harassed by the police in Kathua district and urged the authorities to address the rising crime rates in Jammu.
The Congress leader lamented the loss of hope among the populace due to the government’s inability to address their concerns within the Union Territory’s dual power framework.
“People feel let down; they cast their votes in hopes of resolving everyday issues related to electricity, rations, roads, and water. They sense that the administration remains confused about yet-to-be-finalized business rules. Furthermore, the pending restoration of statehood adds to their anxiety,” he remarked.
Karra expressed confidence that the committee formed by the government to finalize business rules would soon present its report to provide relief to the citizens. (Agencies)
