JAMMU, June 14: The Congress party today launched a five-day padyatra in Jammu district (Urban) under the banner of the “Hamari Riyasat Hamara Haq” campaign, intensifying its demand for the restoration of full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir while raising several pressing issues affecting the people across the country and the Union Territory.
The padyatra was formally inaugurated by J&K Pradesh Congress Committee President Tariq Hameed Karra, and senior leaders were present including PCC Working President Raman Bhalla, District Congress Committee Jammu Urban President and former Minister Yogesh Sawhney, and former contesting candidate Jammu West Manmohan Singh along with other senior Congress leaders and workers.
The march witnessed enthusiastic participation from party cadres and local residents who joined the campaign to voice concerns over inflation, soaring petrol and diesel prices, unemployment, the NEET paper leak controversy, and what Congress termed as the continued neglect of Jammu and Kashmir by the BJP-led government at the Centre.
The Congress leaders also strongly condemned the killing of three Indian sailors in the Gulf of Oman after a US military strike on a tanker accused of violating a blockade on Iranian ports, calling it a deeply unfortunate incident and demanding that the Government of India take up the matter seriously to ensure accountability and protection of Indian citizens working abroad.
Along with Tariq Hameed Karra, Raman Bhalla, Former Ministers Mula Ram, Yogesh Sawhney, senior leaders were present including Yashpal Kundal, Ex Lagistlators Ved Mahajan, Yashpal Kundal, Balbir Singh, Indu Pawar, Garu Ram, Contested candidate Manmohan Singh, Rajneesh Sharma, Vijay Sharma, Ajay Lakhotra, Zaida Khan, Gurdarshan Singh, Satish Sharma, Rajinder Singh Jamwal, Sanjeev Sharma, Kapil Chib, Dwarka Choudhary, Vinod Sharma, Amrit Bali, Iqbal Dar, Suresh Dogra, Surinder Krmar, Anirudh Sawhney, Rakesh Sharma, Gurmeet Singh, Varinder Manhas, Vijayant Pathania, Babal Gupta, Michael Wazir, Chander Shekhar Sharma, Nageshwar Narayan, Sandeep Dogra, Amna, Mangal Bral, Sdr. Gurmeet Singh and others. Addressing the gathering during the inauguration of the padyatra, PCC President Tariq Hameed Karra said that the “Hamari Riyasat Hamara Haq” movement is not merely a political campaign but a people’s movement aimed at restoring the democratic and constitutional rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. He said that despite repeated promises and assurances made by the BJP leadership, the people of J&K continue to be deprived of their full democratic rights and identity. Karra stated that Congress will continue its struggle both on the roads and in every democratic forum until statehood is restored. He said the present government has failed to address the issues of rising inflation, unprecedented unemployment, increasing fuel prices, and economic distress being faced by common citizens. He added that the burden of price rise has broken the back of the middle class and poor sections, while the youth are suffering due to lack of employment opportunities and repeated failures in the examination system.
Referring to the NEET paper leak issue, Karra said the future of lakhs of students has been put at risk due to corruption and mismanagement, and demanded the immediate resignation of the Union Education Minister, saying moral responsibility cannot be escaped when the credibility of national examinations has been shattered. Karra further said that the Congress party stands firmly with the youth, students, farmers, traders, daily wage earners, and every section of society that is suffering under the current policies of the BJP government. He said Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed continued uncertainty and administrative disconnect after the downgrading of the erstwhile state into a Union Territory, and the people now feel politically disempowered. He maintained that restoration of statehood is essential not only for democratic governance but also for safeguarding the dignity, aspirations, and constitutional rights of the people. Strongly reacting to the deaths of three Indian sailors in the Gulf of Oman, Karra said the incident has caused serious concern among Indians working overseas and stressed that the Government of India must take concrete diplomatic steps to protect Indian citizens and ensure their safety in conflict zones. He said the Congress party shares the grief of the bereaved families and hopes that the Centre will act responsibly and transparently on the issue.
PCC Working President Raman Bhalla, while addressing party workers and the public during the padyatra, said that Congress has always stood with the people during difficult times and will continue to fight against anti-people policies of the BJP government. He said the ongoing padyatra is aimed at taking the voice of the common people directly to the government and exposing the failures of the present regime on every front. Bhalla said inflation has reached alarming levels and essential commodities, fuel, cooking gas, and daily necessities have become increasingly unaffordable for ordinary families. He said the repeated examination paper leaks have shattered the confidence of students and unemployed youth who are already struggling due to limited job opportunities.
Bhalla reiterated that Congress will continue to raise the demand for restoration of full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir with full constitutional guarantees and democratic rights. He also condemned the deaths of Indian sailors in the Gulf of Oman and said the safety and dignity of Indian citizens abroad should remain a priority for the Government of India. Bhalla called upon Congress workers to strengthen the movement and ensure that the concerns and aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir are heard loudly across the country.
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