Parliament launches campaign to protest against rising terrorism
Gopal Sharma
Jammu, July 17: The Indian National Congress in Jammu and Kashmir will begin protests from Friday against the BJP-led government’s failure to curb militancy and its decision to grant additional powers to the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir ahead of the state assembly elections.
Click here to watch the video
Addressing media persons here today, AICC president Bharatsin Solanki, former Union Minister and party’s in-charge for Jammu and Kashmir affairs, and Jammu and Kashmir PCC president Vikar Rasool Wani declared that they would launch a movement in all districts against the increasing terrorist activities, granting more powers to the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir and usurping the powers of the Prime Minister and the Legislative Assembly.
Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp
“The protests will begin at the state level and will be expanded to district and block levels across Jammu and Kashmir in the coming days,” they clarified.
“We will also strongly demand restoration of statehood by September 30, the deadline set by the Supreme Court for holding the state assembly elections,” Solanki said.
The AICC leader slammed the BJP-led Union government for giving more powers to the Lieutenant Governor and said the BJP wanted to continue with proxy rule even after the much-awaited state assembly elections.
“Giving power to the Lt Governor means neutralising the elected government. The BJP has already destroyed this historic state by snatching away statehood, special status and other rights. They have failed to curb terrorism and know they will be defeated in the next state assembly elections,” the AICC leader said.
Solanki said the Congress wants full statehood to be restored before the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections are held as per the deadline set by the Supreme Court.
“The BJP says one thing and does another. They are using their power to stay in power and exploit the people and resources of Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.
The AICC leader alleged that 11 terror attacks in the last 78 days and the killing of over 50 soldiers across Jammu region since October 2021 have created fear among people. There is no peace and people, especially in remote villages, are in fear.
“We are concerned about the current security situation. The Prime Minister, Home Minister and Defence Minister cannot find words to express their grief over the loss of lives, including civilians and pilgrims,” Solanki added.
He said all claims made by the BJP about eradicating terrorism since it came to power in 2014 were baseless and it had completely failed to handle the security situation.
“The Prime Minister, Home Minister and Defence Minister went directly to Jammu and Kashmir to address a rally for the Assembly elections which was held in a peaceful atmosphere. As the Assembly elections date nears, there has been a surge in terrorist activities creating doubts in the minds of people,” he said.
“We appeal to the government to end terrorism and create a favourable atmosphere for the upcoming elections,” he said.
Solanki also criticised the BJP government for giving unlimited powers to the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir ahead of the state assembly elections and said such an elected government in Jammu and Kashmir is essentially like an autonomous body with a “powerless” Chief Minister.
“The Delhi government is a glaring example. It was the same during the British rule earlier too. They made the local government powerless. The Congress will fight for restoration of statehood, usurped powers and restoration of peace,” he asserted.
With the Indian Bloc winning nine of the 11 total seats in the recently held by-elections, Solanki said the BJP could secure just two seats and that would come in Jammu and Kashmir and other states where state assembly elections will be held soon. “People want change and it is slowly happening,” Solanki said.
Jammu and Kashmir Commission chairman Vikar Rasool Wani criticised the BJP for “destroying our historic state” under the central government for the last decade and said Jammu was free from extremism under the Congress-led UPA government but the BJP has completely failed to provide safety to a people gripped in fear due to the resurgence of terrorism.
“Before 2014, when they (BJP) were out of power, they had asked the Congress why they cannot eliminate terrorism when they have the BSF, army and police. Today, with terrorism flaring up again in Jammu region, I am asking the same question — why can’t they eliminate terrorism,” he said.
He said that during the recently concluded election campaign for India’s Lok Sabha, the BJP made exaggerated claims of ending terrorism to mislead people and garner votes, adding that “nearly 10 terror attacks have taken place in the Jammu region this year.”
The Congress wants an end to terrorism so that the people of Jammu and Kashmir can live in peace. In this context, the Congress will launch massive protests from Friday, he added.
Solanki was also accompanied by AICC general secretary Manoj Yadav, JKPCC general secretary Raman Bhalla and JKPCC senior vice-president and spokesperson Ravinder Sharma.
