Congress Holds Protest March at Nai Basti Over Statehood, NEET Scam and Alleged Chanda Chori

Jammu, July 12: The Congress party today held a strong protest march in the Rampura and Nai Basti areas of Jammu city, raising issues of restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, alleged Chanda Chori, NEET paper leak scam, unemployment and the need to safeguard the future of youth.

The protest was led by JKPCC Working President Shri Raman Bhalla, DCC Jammu Urban President and former Minister Shri Yogesh Sawhney, Chief Spokesperson Shri Ravinder Sharma, senior leader Th. Manmohan Singh and Incharge Jammu South Shri Amrit Bali. A large number of Congress leaders, workers and Mahila Congress activists participated in the march.

The protest march started from Rampura and passed through Nai Basti in Satwari area of Jammu South Assembly constituency. The protesters carried placards and raised slogans against the BJP-led Government, demanding a Supreme Court-monitored probe into the alleged Chanda Chori in the name of Ram Temple, resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET paper leak issue, restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir and creation of employment opportunities for unemployed youth.

The protesters raised slogans such as “Jo na hue Ram ke, kya honge awam ke”, “Chanda choron ko benaqab karo” and “Hamari Riyasat, Hamara Haq”, while demanding accountability and justice on all major issues concerning the public.

Addressing the gathering, Shri Raman Bhalla questioned the silence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the alleged loot in the name of Ram Temple donations. He demanded that the existing trust should be dissolved and handed over to Sadhus, Saints and Shankaracharyas to protect the faith and sentiments of crores of devotees. He also demanded a Supreme Court-monitored probe to expose all those involved in the alleged Chanda Chori.

Shri Bhalla said that the commercialisation of education under the BJP Government has become a serious concern and has resulted in repeated examination scams, including the NEET paper leak. He said students are under stress and many families are suffering, but the Union Government has failed to fix responsibility. He demanded that Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan should own moral responsibility and resign.

He said the Congress party is fighting for the rights, dignity and safety of the youth, who are facing frustration due to unemployment, examination scams and lack of accountability in the education system.

Shri Bhalla also demanded immediate restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir. He said the Congress party has been consistently fighting for restoration of statehood for the last nearly two years, including protests at Jantar Mantar and movements at block level across Jammu and Kashmir.

He said it is good that the National Conference has also joined the struggle for restoration of statehood, though belatedly. He asserted that the Congress party will continue to fight on the streets for people’s issues, especially statehood, alleged Chanda loot, unemployment and reforms in the education system.

Former Minister and DCC Jammu Urban President Shri Yogesh Sawhney strongly criticised the BJP, RSS and the Modi Government over the alleged loot in the name of Ram Temple donations. He said the religious sentiments of crores of Hindus have been hurt and demanded a high-level probe headed by the Supreme Court to expose all those responsible.

Shri Sawhney said those who were acting as “chowkidars” must be held accountable if they failed to protect public faith and donations. He also criticised the Union Government over examination scams and the commercialisation of education, demanding strict accountability and urgent reforms in the examination system.

He reiterated the demand for restoration of statehood and full democratic rights to the people of Jammu and Kashmir. He also took a dig at the National Conference for remaining silent and staying away from the statehood movement launched by the Congress party for the past two years.

Chief Spokesperson Shri Ravinder Sharma, former DCC President Jammu Urban Th. Manmohan Singh, Incharge Jammu South Shri Amrit Bali, Vijay Sharma, Dwarka Choudhary, NSUI President Ajay Lakhotra, Satish Sharma, Vijay Chaudhary, Suresh Kumar and other senior leaders also addressed the gathering and criticised the BJP Government over the issues raised during the protest.

Prominent Congress leaders and workers who participated in the protest included Sanjeev Panda, Sohit Sharma, Rajesh Sharma, Pawan Bhagat, Mangal Bral, S. Parveen Singh, Balbir Kumar, former Corporator, Rakesh Sharma, Latish Sharma, Bushan Kumar Reedi, Pardeep Bhalla, Sanjeev Kattal, Satnam Kaka, Jatin Vashisht, Ashwani Sethi, Paramjeet Singh, S. Gurmeet Singh, S. Rajinder Singh, Kewal Yogi, Manmohan Sharma, Pawan Mehra, Prabhu, Kaka Vipan, Pawan Sharma, Vikas Manhas, Veena Madam, Anuradha, Asha Chandan, Darshana, Shukla, Jyoti Devi, Chander Prabha Viju, Suresh Sharma, Sanjeev Vaid Bitti, Darshana Sharma, Veena Angural, Surinder Sodhi, Ashwani Sodhi, Prem Dogra, Rita Konija, Suman Choudhary, Santosh Sharma, Satinder Singh, Sonu Choudhary, Capt. Bodh Raj, Jagdish Lal, Naresh Seth, Balbir Mehta, Kewal Sharma, Kartaro Devi, Vijay Gagal, Karan Sharma, Sushil Kumar, Romesh Sharma, Jagmohan Sharma, Raj Kumar, Sudesh Kumar, Manohar Lal, Babu Ram, Rajinder Randhwa, Satwant Singh Kaka, Sat Pal Sapolia, Bushan Reddy and others.