AKHNOOR: Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) president Tariq Hameed Karra on Friday said the Congress would continue its campaign against alleged electoral irregularities, accusing the BJP-led government of undermining the right to vote and democratic institutions.
Addressing a party gathering at Akhnoor, organised by newly appointed JKPCC Scheduled Caste Department chairman Ashok Bhagat, Karra alleged that large-scale electoral manipulation had taken place under the BJP government and claimed that more than 13 crore people had been deprived of their voting rights.
Referring to the allegations raised by Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, Karra accused the government of facilitating what he termed ‘vote chori’ through Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. He said the Congress and like-minded parties would continue to raise the issue and called upon party workers to expose alleged electoral irregularities.
Karra also reiterated the Congress’s demand for restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, saying its absence had deprived people of important political and administrative rights. He said restoration of statehood remained a key priority for the party.
Congratulating Bhagat on his appointment, Karra said the party had entrusted him with the responsibility of representing the concerns of disadvantaged and marginalised communities.
He also recalled the contributions of former Akhnoor MLA Pt Dharampal Sharma, who recently passed away, and former MP Madan Lal Sharma, saying the Congress would work to revive its political presence in the Akhnoor-Chhamb belt.
JKPCC working president Raman Bhalla criticised the BJP over the delay in the proposed railway connectivity project linking Rajouri and Poonch through Akhnoor and Sunderbani.
He said the project had been awaiting clearance for more than 13 years and accused the BJP of neglecting the border areas by failing to take it forward.
Bhalla also said people in Jammu and Kashmir were caught between two centres of power in the absence of an elected state government and asserted that the Congress would continue its campaign for restoration of statehood.
Former minister Mula Ram accused the BJP government of failing to protect the interests of poor and marginalised sections, citing rising prices and unemployment. He also criticised the alleged electoral irregularities raised by the Congress.
Jammu Rural district Congress president Neeraj Kundan and other leaders welcomed Bhagat’s appointment and praised his grassroots-level work.
The gathering was attended by JKPCC chief spokesperson Ravinder Sharma, former MP T.S. Bajwa, former legislators Th Balbir Singh, Ved Mahajan and Th Hari Singh Chib, former minister Yash Pal Kundal, former MLA Krishan Bhagat and other party leaders.
