Bishnah, March 2: Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) President Tariq Hameed Karra launched a scathing attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), accusing it of denying statehood to Jammu and Kashmir after failing to secure a mandate to govern in the recently held Assembly elections. Addressing a massive gathering of Congress workers at Salerh in Bishnah, Karra alleged that the BJP is punishing the people of J&K by depriving them of their democratic rights simply because the party was rejected at the ballot box.
“Despite repeatedly promising to restore full statehood, the BJP has gone back on its word. This is not only a betrayal of the people of J&K but also a direct defiance of the Supreme Court’s directives on the matter,” Karra stated. He further alleged that instead of respecting the democratic will of the people, the BJP is attempting to rule J&K by proxy through the Lieutenant Governor-led administration.
As part of the Congress Party’s larger movement for the restoration of full statehood, Karra underscored the party’s commitment to the principles of Jai Bapu, Jai Bhim, Jai Samvidhan. The rally was organized by AICC Secretary and former Congress candidate Neeraj Kundan and was attended by several senior party leaders.
Taking a historical dig at the BJP, Karra lamented that the people of J&K are being forced to demand their rightful statehood from those in power today, whose ideological forebears did not contribute to India’s freedom struggle. “When Congress leaders were fighting the British on the streets and in jails, the political ancestors of the BJP were siding with the colonizers. They have no role in India’s independence, yet today, they are trying to erase the sacrifices of our leaders,” he asserted.
Referring to the rich legacy of the Dogra warriors, Karra recalled their role in expanding the boundaries of Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh up to Gilgit-Baltistan. He accused the BJP of “ruthlessly dismembering” the historical Dogra state and now showing reluctance in restoring it, forcing the people—especially the Dogras—onto the streets in protest.
Neeraj Kundan, addressing the gathering, thanked the people of the Bishnah Assembly segment for their unwavering support during the elections. Raising critical local issues, he condemned the implementation of smart meters, which he claimed were being used to harass poor consumers through arbitrary disconnections over unpaid bills. He also spoke against the eviction of farmers who have been cultivating land for decades.
JKPCC Working President Raman Bhalla expressed gratitude to the people of Bishnah for their support during both the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections, where he and Neeraj Kundan secured significant votes. “The people of Bishnah, living along the border, have suffered immensely due to BJP’s failed policies. However, their resilience and secular values remain unwavering,” Bhalla remarked.
Former Deputy Chief Minister and Working President of JKPCC, Tara Chand, along with former MP Ch. Lal Singh, lambasted the BJP for what they described as the “loot” of J&K’s resources, land, and jobs following the abrogation of Article 370. “The Dogras and the people of Jammu never wanted the arbitrary dismemberment of our historical state. The BJP has betrayed everyone, including its own supporters,” they asserted, calling for constitutional safeguards to protect the future generations of J&K.
The event saw the presence of prominent Congress leaders, including Yogesh Sawhney, Dr. Manohar Lal Sharma, Hari Singh Chib, Indu Pawar, MLA Iftikhar Ahmed, Manmohan Singh, M.K. Bhardwaj, Narinder Sharma, Vijay Sharma (Seva Dal), Dwarka Chaudhary, and Ajay Lakhotra, all of whom reiterated their demand for the immediate restoration of J&K’s statehood and constitutional rights.