Jammu: The Jammu and Kashmir unit of Congress on Monday termed the BJP’s ‘Jan Samvad’ virtual rally addressed by Defenece minister Rajnath Singh in the Union territory a “flop show” and said it only highlighted the fulfillment of BJP’s agenda about revocation of Article 370 but did not discuss the growing resentment over several post-abrogation actions adversely affecting the people, especially the youth of the region.
“The top BJP leadership only talked about the fulfillment of the party agenda to abrogate special status but failed to mention a word about post-abrogation protections as promised resulting into resentment and concern among the local population, especially the youth of Jammu besides large-scale anger over the disbanding and downgrading of the historical Dogra state,” chief spokesperson of Pradesh Congress Committee Ravinder Sharma said in a statement today.
The PCC spokesperson said the Defence minister did not speak about the promise to restore statehood to Jammu and Kashmir despite lapse of about 10 months, the increased graph of unemployment after BJP failed to fulfill its “hollow and false” assurances of providing over 50,000 jobs and the anti-youth recruitment policy and norms.
Sharma said the new “faulty” domicile law, non-fulfillment of demands for revocation of SRO 202, restoration of 4G mobile Internet services and burdening people of Jammu with toll plazas were the other issues which needed to be addressed.
Taking a dig at the local BJP leaders for their failure to raise the public issues, he said they only indulged in showering praises but did not raise the plight of the local youth besides displaced people from Pakistan-administered- Kashmir apart from border residents who are becoming soft targets on regular bases due to increased “ceasefire violations by Pakistan”.
“BJP is more concerned about political interests at the time of grave crisis and people dying of COVID-19 besides severe external challenges but the Modi government and the ruling party is holding political rallies which are unfortunate,” he further said.
He also alleged that BJP is more concerned about political interests at the time of grave crisis following the outbreak of coronavirus pandemic besides severe external challenges.
Reacting to the address of the Defence minister, PCC spokesperson said Singh failed to send a “loud and clear” signal to the hostile neighbours who are flexing muscles and transgressed “deep” into the Indian territory.
“It was expected that he would reiterate the often repeated pledge that every inch of our territory including Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir shall be retrieved but he twice repeated that country’s armed strength is for self-defence only and not to terrorise any country.
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi had promised to see eye to eye with China and teach a lesson to Pakistan. Where is that promise?” the Congress spokesperson said in a statement here.
However, he said the entire country stands shoulder to shoulder with the armed forces and the government of the day to deal with “external challenges”.
