Led by newly appointed AICC Incharge J&K affairs Smt. Rajni Patil, Ex-MP and JKPCC President G.A. Mir, Congress today held an impressive farmers rally “Kissan Sammelan” here today at Bahu Chowk Jammu City and launched a frontal attack on the Modi Govt. for the anti-farmers legislations besides criticizing it for its failure to prevent atrocities on women citing the Hathras rape and murder case besides lashing out at its dealing with the sensitive J&K issue in disbanding, dividing and downgrading the historical Dogra State into UT. Smt. Rajni Patil who arrived here today on her maiden five days visit after having been assigned the important charge of the party in the sensitive Jammu and Kashmir, kick started the party’s campaign by addressing an impressive Kissan Rally, amidst the worst Covid-19 situation, indicating that the party would gear up its political activities to expose the Centre’s policies and programme in the region. Shri Sudhir Sharma-former Minister Himachal Pradesh and Secretary AICC also accompanied her.
Launching a frontal attack on the Modi led BJP Govt., Smt. Patil said that the more than 62 crores farmers are up in arms against the Modi Govt’s new legislations, which are against the overall economic interests of the farmers in the Country. Instead of fulfilling the promise to double their income, the Modi Govt. has taken anti farmer steps against the BJP promise of 50% MSP over production cost, contrary to Swaminathan Commission recommendations. This is highly retrograde steps towards farmers and Congress party under leadership of Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi is fully behind farmers who are agitating for their just cause.She also took upon the BJP for its utter failure to check atrocities and incidents of rapes against women and ensure justice to the victims, citing the recent Hathras case besides another much published incident of alleged rape involving a sitting BJP MLA in UP. These incidents and total mishandling by the UP Govt. have shaken the confidence of the women folk in the country under BJP regime and strongly condemned the way Shri Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi were manhandled by the police, when they were proceeding to meet victims family, also blaming PM Modi of not being sensitive to the such heinous and barbaric incidents against women.
Quoting example of Dhrupdi from ancient times, she said it led to Mahabharata. Whenever the dignity and honour of women was touched, it led to revolutions while Referring to such incidents in modern times with Smt. Indira Gandhi, Jayalalitha and Mamta Banerjee, she said adding now the BJP government is indulging in such a behavior.
Referring to Jammu & Kashmir, she said that the historical Dogra state has been unilaterally and unconstitutional disbanded and downgraded into UT against the honour, rights and sentiments of the people, who seek restoration of statehood at the earliest with safeguards for land and jobs.
She said UTs have become states in the country but far the first time a full-fledged state has been downgraded into UT in the history of India, which not only unfortunate but injustice. The Congress party would fight for the genuine rights of the people in Jammu and Kashmir who have underwent numerous sufferings during the past four years especially post August 05, 2019.
The youth and students are deprived of the jobs and 4G services, peoples liberties curtailed in many ways and even during the Covid-19 situation the facilities of oxygen are not adequately available under BJP regime, which reflects its failure and neglect of the people here. Smt. Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi have great concern and interest in the people of J&K, She said.
Referring to the organization, she said that Congress President Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi have assigned her an important role to apprise them of the ground situations and sentiments of dedicated workers who stood like a rock for the party during all these years of the difficult times under the leadership of Shri G.A. Mir, who has worked hard all these years. She said that party is supreme and all have to work unitedly to defeat the challenges of the time.
She said that she has sought the blessings of Bawe Wali Mata Ji and prayed for the well being of all people especially during the Covid-19 and would strive to interact and work with the people for the resolving their hardships, who have undergone numerous sufferings of prolonged militancy while expressing serious concern over the recent spurt in the killings of political workers and representatives of PRIs.
PCC Chief G. A. Mir while welcoming Smt. Rajni Patil said that she has a vast experience of public life and organization while expressing gratitude to the Congress high command for assigning experienced people to guide us like the Smt. Ambika Soni in the past and thanked the entire AICC team with her for their strenuous efforts to support the party unit.
Shri Mir referred to challenges before Congress during past more than six years, when Congress was out of power at the centre or here, while in the past it either remained in power at the centre or the state for some durations as a coalition partner led by the regional parties like PDP or NC, except for short period when Shri Ghulam Nabi Azad was the Chief Minister when the government did excellently well for the people. He said that Congress fulfilled several promises in coalition also with the full support of the centre but probably Congress workers felt ignored and were annoyed with us which became one of the cause of our defeat in 2014 election. He appreciated the dedication of the cardres and said that Congress is still a strong force in Jammu and Kashmir, as the people have realized the hollowness of the slogans of the BJP and the people especially the youth and students have been deprived of jobs and basic rights.
Mir said that Congress workers stood like a rock against the vindictive policies of the BJP and remained loyal to the party and its policies under the dynamic leadership of Smt. Sonia Gandhi & Shri Rahul Gandhi as the people trust their leadership. Time is ripe for the party to emerge stronger in both Jammu and in Kashmir regions.
He presented a memorandum on behalf of JKPCC to Smt. Rajni Patil to be forwarded to the President of India through Lt. Governor Shri Manoj Sinha.
Shri Raman Bhalla in his address lashed out the BJP for its utter failure to respect the mandate of the people of Jammu and the people feel marginalized and neglected in every sphere. BJP leaders stand exposed for their lust of power and not respecting the mandate and for their hollow slogans and the utter failures of the BJP on all fronts. He appreciated the commitment of Congress cadres for facing the tough challenges during all these years including the vindictive attitude of the JBP Government. The people are turning against the policies and programs of the BJP and it is time to gear up to fight for the genuine rights of the people who have been deprived of their basic identity of the state.
Shri Mula Ram in his address referred to the historical role of the party and said that it is only voice of all sections of Jammu and Kashmir. He charged BJP of disrespecting the sentiments of the people and leaving them at the mercy of God in the present critical moment. He said that Congress would continue to raise the voice of all sections.
Prominent those spoke include Smt. Kanta Bhan, Shri Balwan Singh, Majeed Wani, Ravinder Sharma, Th. Manmohan Singh, Yogesh Sawhney, Neeraj Kundan-(National President NSUI), Indu Pawar, Udhey Bhanu Chib, Rajesh Sadotra, Shiv Dev Singh, Ashok Sharma, Th. Balbir Singh, Haider Sheikh, Ch. Gharu Ram, Shah Mohd. Choudhary, District Presidents Hari Singh Chib, Sahbir Ahmed Khan, Ch. Abdul Gani, Farooq Katoch, Sheikh Mujeeb, Sain Rasheed, Vinod Sharma, K.K. Pangotra, V.K. Maggoo, Suresh Dogra, Shiv Kumar Sharma, Secretaries Pawan Raina, Sanjeev Panda, Shashi Sharma, Ashok Gupta, Neeraj Gupta, Manjit Jatt, Pankaj Dogra, Nirdosh Sharma, Satish Sharma, Sanjeev Sharma, Shakeel Mir, Rajvir Singh, Gajan Singh, Vandana Sharma; Coporators/Councilors and heads of frontal wings.
Prominent leader of Gulab-Garh Advocate Sheikh Aijaz Ahmed alongwith large number of his supporters today joined the congress party in the Kissan rally in the presence of Smt. Rajni Patil and Shri G. A. Mir besides others. He was welcomed on the stage by Senior Congress leaders amidst raising of slogans by his supporters.