Leader of Opposition (LoP) in RajyaSabha and former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad on Wednesday said that even after putting it’s all out efforts by roping in entire Union Cabinet, BJP will not be able touch double digit in ongoing Assembly elections here in the state.Addressing public rallies in Kotranka, Manjakote, Billawar, BasohliHiranagar, Suchetgarh and Jammu West Assembly Segments, in favour of party candidates Mohammad Iqbal Malik, Shabir Khan, Dr ManoharLal Sharma, Jagdish Raj Sapolia, Girdhari Lal Chalotra, R S Chib and Surinder Singh Shinghaari, former Chief Minister Azad came down heavily on central BJP leadership and pointed out that the party has resorted to all ways and means to ‘hoodwink’ the people of the state in the ongoing Assembly elections.
“But it will not be going to yield any fruitful results for BJP.”“Dozens of Bollywood actors and actresses have been dropped from Mumbai and New Delhi to spread mis-information campaign against Congress. Prime Minister Narinder Modi ji did not spare even a single Union Cabinet Minister at New Delhi, who are roaming in each and every Assembly Segments, door to door and are also not leaving any nook and corner. They have nothing in their kitty to tell about their achievements but have just one agenda to spread hatred against Congress and pide the people on caste and religion lines,” he alleged and added that “even after exhausting all of its resources, it has failed to create any sort of impact at the ground level in Jammu and Kashmir.”
Saying that BJP was making castles in air when it claims of achieving Mission 44+, former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, roared amidst public applause, “In last four phases of polls, people of Kashmir rejected BJP’s ideology by turning up at polling booths in heavy numbers. People of Leh, Ladakh, Chenab Valley and Poonch districts too detected the BJP’s hidden agenda being carried on religious lines and openly voted against BJP candidates. Now, when polling in majority of Assembly segments has been completed and BJP leadership too has realized its defeat, it is trying to pump in all types of resources just to hoodwink the people to fetch few seats in fifth and final phase.”
He asserted that “the way people have reposed faith in Congress party, it has become crystal clear that either Congress will form the next government at its own or it will lead the coalition.”Countering BJP’s allegations against Congress for not doing any development in Jammu and Kashmir, Congress stalwart passed a piece of advice to the advisors to Prime Minister to pass on correct information to him. “During my tenure of chief minister, equitable and time bound developmental works were initiated and completed. Who ensured timely completion and functioning of two important Super Specialty Hospitals-one in Jammu and another Kashmir valley, on the pattern of AIIMS? Who laid hundreds of kilometers long highways and national highways in J&K? Who started four lane works on Jammu-Srinagar national highway? Who executed railway line from Jammu to Srinagar via Udhampur, Katra and Rajouri Poonch?
Who gave Five Medical Colleges and five Cancer Care Institutes to J&K?” were the some of questions challenging BJP, NC and PDP by Azad.Urging the people to vote Congress to power to further development all the three regions and eight sub-regions of the state, he highlighted that “all the ongoing developmental projects were architected and executed by only and only Congress party. It was due to the efforts of party president Madam Sonia Gandhi and the then Prime Minister Dr Man Mohan Singh that financial assistance worth crores was extended to Jammu and Kashmir. “What BJP led government at center has done in past six months? Nothing but is busy in cutting ribbons during inaugural ceremonies of projects made by Congress led UPA government,”
Highlighting that Congress always pursued policy of secularism, communal harmony and development of all sections of society irrespective of any caste, colour, creed or religion, former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Azad said, “It was the initiative of Congress that numerous Schools, Degree Colleges, Hospitals, thousands of Anganwari centers, lakhs of AASHA workers were established for providing better education and health care services to the people of the state. Creation of eight new districts and thousands of new administrative units could not have seen the light of the day had Congress party not taken its firm stand over the issue in the state cabinet. It were parties like BJP, NC and PDP that never wanted Congress to take people friendly decisions.”
AICC general secretary and in-charge, J&K Affairs, Ambika Soni, who too accompanied Azad, took a dig at BJP and sought to know what positive and pro-poor people initiatives have been taken by BJP government at center in past six months. “Inflation is still a suffering for lower and middle class. BJP promises to kill down inflation. Why it has failed to fulfill its commitment which it had given during general elections.”Cautioning the people against pisive policies of BJP, Soni urged the gathering that “If Congress is voted to power, it will keep women empowerment and new employment avenues for educated unemployment youths of the state among top priorities. It was Congress decision that reservation for women was ensured in Panchayat Elections. Congress will carry forward its agenda of development through the mode of double shift and triple shift works.”
PCC president, Professor Saif-Ud-Din Soz also addressed the gatherings and maintained that Congress is contesting elections on development plank. He highlighted that Congress had proved how to deliver good governance to the people. He further called upon the people to beware of the policies being formulated by the pisive forces and urged them to strengthen the hands of secular Congress, which ensures development and integrity of the state as well as nation.