Jammu: Former Minister and senior Congress leader Raman Bhalla on Saturday strongly condemned attack on Nankana Sahib Gurdwara, the birth place of Guru Nanak Dev, in Pakistan. Strong action must be taken against miscreants who indulged in the desecration of the holy Gurudwara & attacked members of minority Sikh community. In addition, Govt of Pakistan is enjoined to take all measures to protect & preserve the sanctity of the holy Nankana Sahib Gurudwara,” Bhalla added.Bhalla held the Pakistani government directly responsible for the incident. “The attack on the Nankana Sahib Gurdwara is a blot upon the principles of humanity and those of religion,” he said. “The Pakistani government is directly responsible for this attack. We condemn this incident in the strongest terms.” The Nankana Saheb attack is violative of the 1955 Pant-Mirza Agreement under which India and Pakistan are obliged “to make every effort to ensure that the places of worship” visited by members of their countries “are properly maintained and their sanctity preserved, he added.”While interacting with party workers of Model Town, Bhalla asked Union Govt to immediately address growing insecurity about economic, cultural and demographic impact among business circles, social activists and general public in J&K UT. Prominent among those present on the occasion include Ward 57 Corporatar Inderjeet Kour, Rajinder Singh Gen Sec DCC (I) Urban ,Vandana AICC member , S.Harbans Singh, Surjit Singh Laddi, Davendar Singh Laddi Madan Lal, Tarlochan Singh and others.
Speaking on the occasion, he said demand for domicile provision for economic safeguards and clarity on land rights is a major subject of discussion in the Dogra-inhabited belt. Cautioning Union Government against ignoring interests of local youth in jobs and employment, former Minister said interest of local must be protected in new dispensation after October 31. He said there are apprehensions among local educated youth that they would lose their rights on jobs. These apprehensions should be removed and Union Government must make constitutional provisions to ensure locals have rights on jobs”, he said while interacting with party workers here this afternoon.
Bhalla said that after the abrogation of Article 370 and 35-A, the BJP had promised to the youth of J&K that their interests would be safeguarded, but it has failed to do so. He added that there is discontent not just in the Kashmir valley, but even among the youth of Jammu as they feel that non-locals will take away their rights. The Congress leaders demanded enactment of laws for safeguarding the rights and interests of the youth in J&K. He sought peoples support to defeat the politics based on lies and deceit in J&K aiming to mislead people on various counts for the sake of electoral gains. Bhalla assured that Congress will do everything to ensure safety security of the people, besides overall development of J&K which has witnessed period of misrule and mis-governance on the part of BJP. He said Congress Party is capable enough to defeat the forces inimical to peace and development, will take every measure to contain communal and fascist forces, vitiating atmosphere of peace to serve their vested interests. He also made a fervent appeal to people of the country to realize as to how much harm BJP has done to the Constitution and democratic system in India, which the Congress party under the leadership of Gandhis’ have always safeguarded and strengthened even by sacrificing their lives.
Calling upon the people of J&K particularly the youth to join hands to safeguard their unique culture, history, jobs and lands, Bhalla said that Congress would launch a vigorous campaign for protecting such distinctive rights of its people.He said that Congress is committed to protect the lands of poor farmers besides safeguarding the rights of local youth in the State’s employment. Congress is the only unifying force which stands guarantee to the secular fabric in the country, besides safety and security of the people irrespective of their colour or religion and it will continue to fight against the forces dividing people on caste, religion or regional lines,” he said. Bhalla said that there seems to be no Government on the ground. The sufferings of the people have added manifold. Worst is the condition of roads all over the J&K and many development works have been stopped. Bhalla further said that since the current dispensation assumed charge, people here are being deprived of every basic facility. The alienation between the Government and the people is at an all time high. The people have no expectations from the government, as the government has failed to come up with people-friendly policies.