Former Minister and senior Congress leader Raman Bhalla on Sunday termed BJP Ministers reach-out programme of Union Ministers claiming to change the destiny of the people of J&K political gimmick to befool the masses. Interacting with prominent persons of Bhour Camp area of Gandhi Nagar constituency, Bhalla said that like the much-touted back-to-village programme, this exercise will also be a flop show. He said the aim of the ministers’ visit is mere eyewash to divert attention of the people from the complete failure of the BJP. Terming the visit futile exercise, Bhalla said that It has been six months since Article 370 was abrogated what has been done since then,’’ he asked. “The BJP only knows to blow trumpets but does nothing,” he added. He said at a time when unemployment is on the rise in Jammu and Kashmir and people are not being paid their salaries, the J&K government is organising a visit of Central ministers.
The BJP led NDA Government has betrayed and cheated the refugees of 1947, 1965 & 1971 from PoK and those from West Pakistan.Bhalla said that the package of one time settlement of refugees of 1947, 1965 and 1971 comprising financial assistance/ex-gratia relief of Rs 25 lakhs per family amounting to over Rs 9000 crore alongwith several other concessions including reservation to their wards was recommended by the previous Congress-NC coalition Government to the Centre, after hot pursuit by the Congress and various organization of refugees.The BJP which promised to ensure one time settlement of refugees for PoK including from Chhamb area, Mirpur, Poonch and Muzaffarabad districts under illegal occupation of Pak besides promising citizenship to West Pakistan refugees before the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections, has betrayed them after assuming power both at the Centre and sharing the same in the State. Soon after coming to power, the Modi Government had returned the package to the State Government without any reason, adding insult to their injuries.Bhalla pointed out that the package of ex-gratia recommended by the Congress-NC Government for the PoK refugee families alone was to the extent of over 9000 crores but the present Centre Government failed to grant the same,Bhalla added.
Bhalla said the growing disappointment among people with the BJP government over governance deficit has “completely unnerved the non-performing BJP Govt. Instead of getting into functional mode, government is struggling to put its act together by indulging in patch-work and cosmetic makeover in a bid to be seen in command of the situation. The government is invisible on ground zero and lack of political direction has left the administrative apparatus haywire.” He said Govt is working at cross purposes and inherent contradictions have taken a toll on public welfare. “Even on some very sensitive issues, the govt is suffering from contradictions. This has left J&K almost polarized,” he said. People usually talk of government deficit but in this case there is nothing like governance; it is a vacuum where it feels that the government does not exist at all, Bhalla said.
The people had been breathing in an atmosphere of peace and reaping benefits of development during Congress rule but the scenario is quite different now. Peace stands threatened in both the divisions of Kashmir and Jammu while there seems a sort of standstill on development,” he said.Similar is the case with development, which has suffered immensely due to wrong policies of BJP Govt that has left the administration in deep inertia,” he said.He decried the diversionary tactics being adopted by BJP to cover up its failures on administrative front. They are talking politics more and not attending to the woes and problems of the people, he said.Recalling State’s glorious traditions of amity, peaceful co-existence and tolerance, Bhalla said that Congress has always strived to nurture this spirit of unity in diversity. This is the legacy which will be carried forward with same vigour and those coming in its way will find their political space shrinking, he said.
Bhalla maintained that a huge responsibility is upon Congress to safeguard public interest and to fight for just cause of the people who have been left in lurch by the BJP Government. Bhalla said BJP failed to expedite work on all the key projects, ensuring good governance and providing a hassle-free administration by reaching out to the people and mitigate their grievances. He said with the present pace of delivery, there is still huge gap in decision-taking and implementation on the ground. Speaking on the progress of mega development projects being implemented in Jammu, Bhalla said that all the projects are moving at snail’s pace be it expansion of Jammu Airport and extension of Runway, Multi-tier Parking and Commercial Complex proposed to be constructed at General Bus Stand Jammu, development of Tawi River Front, construction of protection works, water treatment plants, development of reclaimed land into recreational areas and development of tourist facilities along the banks of the River Tawi, sewage project for Jammu city, construction of New Legislative Complex, construction of barrage on River Tawi, Jammu Ropeway Project, from Peerkho to Bahu Fort, construction of Ring Road around Jammu, from Raya Mode at Nagrota Bypass, construction of new Medical Colleges in Jammu region, four-laning of Jammu-Akhnoor road. The progress of potable water augmentation for Jammu city, formulation of Master Plan and implementation of Accelerated Power Development and Reforms Programme and AMRUT going on with no momentum at all.
People are realising the futility of electing a government that is not only insensitive towards their problems but also responsible in adding to these on every front”, Bhalla said He said Congress is the only destination for those who want peace to sustain and development to remain focused agenda of the government in J&K. He said that the BJP leadership is suffering from abject dejection and in fit of frustration they are indulging in Congress bashing.Former Minister slammed BJP for pushing J&K, especially the Jammu region, to backwards on all fronts during its misrule for over three years and under Union govt. The roadmap drawn by the previous Congress Government for development of J&K and empowerment of the people got a huge dent in these three nightmarish years, resulting in development and administrative inertia, alarming increase in unemployment and poor implementation of various welfare schemes”, Bhalla said .
Bhalla said the people of Jammu are genuinely felling let down which is enormously reflected in the growing public disenchantment. He blamed the BJP for prevailing situation, saying the reactionary politics has done more harm to this region than any good. He said the youth have been hit the most, as their aspirations fell flat because of nepotism and favouritism pursued by the anti-youth Government. He referred to the jolt given to meritorious and talented educated youth of Jammu during various selections from time to time during their misrule in J&K and said realization has dawned among the people, especially the youth of Jammu, who have been pushed to the wall by the BJP. Congress leader appealed Governor’s administration to go for a course correction and concentrate on completing the developmental projects set in motion by the Congress Government. He said the BJP owes an explanation to the people of Jammu for failing and exploiting them emotionally. He said Congress is the only answer to the problems confronted to people of J&K and steering it to peace, progress and development.
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