Jammu, The Indian National Congress’s occupied Jammu and Kashmir chapter has voiced a strong demand for the prompt restoration of statehood prior to the conduction of Assembly and Lok Sabha elections in the region. This call for action underlines the party’s push for a swift return to democratic norms and the reinstatement of full state privileges that were altered in recent years.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the demand was articulated during a meeting presided over by former Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand, with the President of the occupied Jammu and Kashmir chapter of the Indian National Congress, Vikar Rasool Wani, serving as the chief guest. The gathering focused on election preparations and strategies, amidst broader discussions on the current political climate and criticisms of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) governance.
The Congress leaders expressed their dissatisfaction with the BJP’s handling of the Prime Minister’s rally, accusing the LG administration of misusing government resources to simulate support amidst public disillusionment with the administration’s unfulfilled promises. They highlighted the unprecedented mobilization of official machinery due to the low public turnout, reflecting widespread disappointment across various sectors of society, including unemployed youth, farmers, refugees, and temporary employees.
Furthermore, the meeting criticized the Prime Minister for neglecting to address the demands for statehood restoration and democracy during his rally, as well as failing to fulfill promises made to the people of Jammu and Kashmir, particularly those from the Jammu region. The Congress representatives condemned the BJP government’s policies, which they argue have exacerbated economic distress, unemployment, and hardship for the general populace.
This stance by the Congress chapter in Jammu and Kashmir underscores the growing clamor for political and administrative reforms in the region, advocating for a restoration of statehood as a precursor to holding transparent and fair elections.