JAMMU: The Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) on Friday held a public outreach programme, ‘Chopal Pe Charcha’, at Rohi Morh in Jammu, where party leaders raised issues ranging from restoration of statehood and unemployment to the concerns of Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) displaced families.
The event was attended by JKPCC president Tariq Hameed Karra, working president Raman Bhalla, former MP Choudhary Lal Singh and other senior party leaders. Local residents and Congress workers also participated and highlighted issues affecting their areas.
Addressing the gathering, Karra said the Congress would continue to raise concerns related to unemployment, recruitment and examination-related issues, rising prices, shortages in public services and the restoration of full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.
He also referred to the party’s campaigns on alleged irregularities in political funding and examination-related issues, and said programmes such as ‘Chopal Pe Charcha’ were intended to provide a platform for people to directly communicate their concerns to party leaders.
Karra stressed the need to strengthen education and healthcare infrastructure and address staff shortages in government institutions.
Bhalla focused on the demands of PoJK displaced families and called for a comprehensive rehabilitation policy covering land rights, employment, education, healthcare and other pending issues.
Referring to the Centre’s ₹2,000-crore rehabilitation package for 36,384 displaced families from PoJK and Chhamb, which provides a one-time assistance of ₹5.5 lakh per eligible family, Bhalla alleged that the amount was inadequate to address the community’s long-standing concerns. He reiterated the Congress demand for a larger rehabilitation package and additional measures for displaced families.
Bhalla also raised issues related to power tariff hikes, unemployment, regularisation of daily wagers, concerns of National Health Mission (NHM) employees, and shortages of staff and infrastructure in government schools and hospitals.
Former MP Choudhary Lal Singh said the Congress would continue to raise issues concerning employment, development, public services and the rising cost of living. He said the concerns of farmers, workers, youth and economically weaker sections required sustained attention and called for strengthening infrastructure and ensuring equitable development across Jammu and Kashmir.
The outreach programme was organised under the leadership of Amrit Bali, in-charge Jammu South-RS Pura, along with local party functionaries and workers. Congress leaders said similar grassroots programmes would continue across the region to gather public feedback and highlight local issues.
