Srinagar: Tariq Hameed Karra, the Congress chief, has accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of turning Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) into a “laboratory” for political experiments, moving away from its status as a thriving tourism destination. Karra criticized the BJP’s actions and rhetoric, claiming they are detrimental to the region’s welfare and its inhabitants.

According to Kashmir Media Service, Karra responded to statements made by BJP leaders about the transformations in IIOJK. He contested their claims, stating, “While transformation is indeed happening in J and K, it’s not what the BJP claims. Instead, the region has been transformed from a thriving tourism hub to an experiment laboratory.”

Karra pointed out the contrasting approaches of the Congress party during its tenure up until 2014, emphasizing practical and diplomatic efforts aimed at restoring peace in the region without compromising the dignity of its citizens. “We, on the other hand, took practical and diplomatic steps to restore peace in IIOJK during our tenure until 2014, without treating our citizens like experimental animals or turning our state into a laboratory,” he added.

Highlighting the outcomes of the Congress-led governance, Karra mentioned, “The Congress government’s efforts yielded tangible results that were felt by the people of J and K.” He called on the BJP to place the state’s interests above partisan politics and to implement policies that would benefit the people directly.

Karra’s plea to the BJP was firm: “The BJP should behave responsibly, putting the needs of IIOJK first, rather than exploiting the situation for political gains. The people deserve better than to be used as pawns in their political games.”