Jammu, Aug 05 : J&K Congress Monday observed black day by holding a massive protest and a dharna in Jammu city at Shaheedi Chowk, on the day J&K state was downgraded into UT in 2019 and continued denial of Restoring statehood after five years.
As per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), led by JKPCC Chief Vikar Rasool Wani and accompanied by top leaders and others senior functionaries of party, the Congress leaders wore black badges and carried black flags, raising slogans against BJP government, Prime Minister and Home Minister for denial of statehood even after five years of the downgrading of historical state into UT and snatching special status under Art 370 of the Constitution.
A large number of senior Congress leaders, functionaries of PCC, DCC, Frontal organisations and blocks participated in the protest dharna and raised strong slogans against BJP for celebrating UT Divas on the day historical Dogra state was disbanded, downgraded into UT and lost all rights, identity, status & dignity and hurled shame on BJP for rubbing salt on the wounds on the people of Jammu and Kashmir. They demanded immediate restoration of statehood with safeguards for land, jobs & natural resources for locals before assembly elections & restoration of democracy at the earliest. Prominent those accompanied include Working President Raman Bhalla, Ch Lal Singh, Mula Ram, Balwan Singh, Ravinder Sharma besides several others.
Talking to media persons on the protest site, JKPCC Chief lashed out at the Modi government and BJP for arbitrarily downgrading historical state and continuously denying its restoration despite false promises even when it completes five years today.
He shamed BJP for celebrating downgrading of historical Dogra state on this day and said that it is black day for people of Jammu and Kashmir as we lost identity, status, dignity and rights on this day five years ago.
BJP should explain what was achieved in five years as J&K has gained number one position in unemployment, unprecedented price rise and people subjected tax terrorism, power tax smart meters, water tax, toll tax and record increase in all government fees, old age widows, handicapped, old government pensioners subjected to harassment, daily wagers, need based, contractual, RET, REZ, REJ, NRHM and all such categories suffering, farmers evicted of state lands and all sections suffering and terrorism on peak in last twenty years but BJP celebrating this. As elections draw near BJP snatched all powers and gave to LG instead if restoration of state as promised.
He demanded immediate restoration of statehood before elections and all rights besides holding assembly elections at the earliest—(KNO)
