Both Govts betrayed J&K people after showing them “stars and sky”: Tara Chand, Wani, Dr Manohar

• Congress leaders slam rising unemployment, inflation and continued neglect of rural J&K

BILLAWAR: In a major show of organisational strength and intensified public outreach, the Jammu & Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) on Sunday organised a massive Sangathan Srijan Abhiyan at Mandli Block in Billawar Constituency, where senior Congress leaders launched a scathing attack on both the Union Government and the Jammu & Kashmir administration for “abandoning the people after making lofty promises of development, employment and prosperity.” The programme was organised by former Minister Dr Manohar Lal Sharma and presided over by former Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand accompanied by former JKPCC Chief Vakar Rasool Wani and former Minister Bhushan Dogra.

Speaking on the occasion, Tara Chand said the BJP government at the Centre had failed to fulfil even a fraction of the promises made to the people of Jammu and Kashmir over the past several years. He alleged that soaring prices of essential commodities, unprecedented unemployment and neglect of border and remote areas have severely impacted ordinary citizens. “Instead of addressing people’s issues, the governments are busy with publicity campaigns while ground realities continue to deteriorate,” he said, adding that the frustration among youth and farmers was increasing with every passing day.

Tara Chand further said that people in rural belts continue to face poor road connectivity, irregular drinking water supply, unscheduled power cuts and inadequate healthcare facilities despite repeated assurances from the administration. He stressed that Congress has always stood with the people during difficult times and would intensify its struggle to ensure justice, development and democratic empowerment for the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

The former Dy CM also expressed concern over what he termed as the shrinking democratic space in Jammu and Kashmir. He said people feel alienated due to the absence of an elected government with full powers, while public representatives are being sidelined in decision-making processes. He reiterated that Congress would continue to fight for restoration of democratic rights, protection of land and jobs for locals, and equitable development of all regions and communities of Jammu and Kashmir. He urged party workers to strengthen grassroots connections and expose the “failures and false narratives” of the ruling dispensation before the masses.

Addressing the gathering, Vakar Rasool Wani accused the BJP-led Union Government and the present J&K administration of pushing the people of the Union Territory towards “deep disappointment, uncertainty and economic distress.” He said the people of Jammu and Kashmir were promised unprecedented development, jobs for youth, restoration of dignity and strengthening of democratic institutions after the abrogation of Article 370, but nothing substantial had been delivered on the ground. “The people were shown stars and sky, but today every section of society feels neglected and betrayed,” he said.

Wani said unemployment in Jammu and Kashmir has reached alarming levels, while inflation, lack of recruitment, closure of livelihood avenues and worsening economic conditions have badly affected common people. He alleged that daily wagers, contractual employees, farmers, labourers, traders and educated unemployed youth are struggling for survival, but the governments at the Centre and in J&K remain insensitive to their plight. He further said that developmental claims made by the administration exist only in advertisements and official statements, whereas rural areas continue to suffer from poor roads, erratic power supply, water scarcity, inadequate healthcare facilities and collapsing education infrastructure.

Earlier, welcoming the senior Congress leadership and workers, Dr Manohar Lal Sharma highlighted several pressing issues being faced by the people of Billawar and adjoining areas. He said the region continues to suffer due to inadequate infrastructure, poor healthcare facilities, lack of employment opportunities for youth and persistent neglect of rural development works. He alleged that despite repeated demands from locals, many basic issues concerning roads, irrigation, drinking water and educational institutions remain unresolved, causing immense hardship to the people.

In his concluding remarks, Dr Manohar Lal Sharma called upon Congress workers to intensify public outreach programmes and strengthen the party organisation at the grassroots level. He said Congress remains committed to protecting the interests and aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir and would continue to raise public issues forcefully both on roads and in democratic forums. Prominent among those present on the occasion included Narinder Sharma, Naresh Sharma, Vijay Tagotra, Narinder Gupta, R.A. Inqlabi, Madan Chalotra, Nirmal Singh Mehta, Pankaj Sharma, Mast Ram Khajuria, Budhi Singh, Romesh Verma, Sham Sapolia, Vipual, Puran Sarpanch, Gulshan Singh, Ram Lal Bhatti, Ghani Sham and Pardeep Sharma Bittu among others.