*Support Congress for land and job security: Kundan
Excelsior Correspondent
BISHNAH, Mar 2: JKPCC president Tariq Hameed Karra criticized the BJP for its failure to address the demands of the people of Jammu & Kashmir regarding Statehood, emphasizing that the BJP did not receive a mandate to govern in J&K.
Speaking to a large assembly of Congress workers today, Karra accused the BJP of punishing the people of J&K since they lacked a mandate in the recent Assembly elections. He claimed that the BJP’s intention is to govern indirectly through the LG administration.
This situation represents a significant injustice to the people and is a betrayal following repeated assurances for the prompt restoration of Statehood, alongside a disregard for Supreme Court directives.
Championing the party’s call for the full restoration of Statehood along with slogans like Jai Bapu Jai Bhim Jai Samvidhan, JKPCC chief addressed the rally at Salerh in Bishnah, organized by the candidate contesting and AICC secretary Neeraj Kundan, which saw the attendance of several senior party leaders.
Karra noted that it is a shame that the demand for Statehood must arise from those currently in power, whose political predecessors allied with colonial rulers while Congress fought for independence on the streets and in jails. They lack a legacy in the nation’s freedom but are attempting to erase the historical significance of Congress leaders in the freedom movement.
He acknowledged the role of Dogra warriors in extending the region’s boundaries to Gilgit-Baltistan but condemned the BJP for dismantling the historic Dogra state without regard for the will of the people, pushing especially Dogras to fight for their rights in the streets.
Neeraj Kundan, during his speech, expressed gratitude to the residents of the Bishnah Assembly segment for their overwhelming support during the elections and promised to continue serving them. He highlighted concerns regarding smart meters and the issues faced by disadvantaged consumers due to power disconnections for payment delays. He also addressed the eviction of long-standing farmers from their lands.
Working president Raman Bhalla thanked the Bishnah Assembly constituents for their significant support, with over 40,000 votes during his Lok Sabha elections, and now to Neeraj Kundan in the Assembly elections. He noted that the people of Bishnah are secular and live near the border, having suffered greatly due to BJP policies.
Working president Tara Chand and former MP Ch Lal Singh referred to the Dogra struggle and the significant state they established, condemning the BJP for ruthlessly and arbitrarily seizing their Dogra state against the wishes of the community, including those in Jammu. They criticized the BJP for the exploitation of J&K resources, land, and job opportunities since the abrogation of special status, calling for constitutional protections to safeguard future generations.
Prominent leaders present included Yogesh Sawhney, Dr. Manohar Lal Sharma, Hari Singh Chib, Indu Pawar, MLA Iftikhar Ahmed, Manmohan Singh, M K Bhardwaj, Narinder Sharma, Vijay Sharma, (Seva Dal) Dwarka Chaudhary, and Ajay Lakhotra.
