Jammu, May 15: The District Congress Committee (DCC) Jammu Urban on Friday organized a massive protest demonstration against the BJP-led NDA Government at the Centre, for its failing on every front and burdening the common people with soaring inflation, rising fuel prices, unemployment and what the party described as anti-people economic policies. The protest was held under the leadership of DCC Jammu Urban President and former Minister Yogesh Sawhney and witnessed enthusiastic participation by senior Congress leaders, office-bearers, Mahila Wing members, youth activists, and hundreds of party workers.
The demonstration was marked by the raising of slogans against the Central Government and the carrying of placards highlighting issues such as the increasing prices of petrol and diesel, the spiraling cost of essential commodities, shrinking employment opportunities and growing financial distress among ordinary households. Congress leaders said that while the government continues to claim economic progress, the reality on the ground is that families across the country are struggling to manage their daily expenses.
Addressing the gathering, Working President of the Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) and former Minister Raman Bhalla launched a sharp attack on the BJP-led NDA Government, alleging that it has failed to fulfill its promises and has instead adopted policies that benefit a handful of influential corporate houses at the cost of the common citizen.
Bhalla said that the latest increase in the prices of petroleum products, particularly petrol and diesel, would have a cascading effect on the entire economy and would directly hit poor and middle-class families. He pointed out that transport costs are closely linked to the prices of all consumer goods, and any increase in fuel prices inevitably leads to a rise in the prices of vegetables, food grains, milk, medicines, construction material, and other essential items.
He said inflation has become the most pressing issue confronting the country today, with families finding it increasingly difficult to meet their monthly expenses. “The common man is being crushed under the weight of inflation. Household budgets have been shattered, savings are shrinking, and the purchasing power of ordinary citizens has declined sharply,” he said.
Bhalla regretted that instead of protecting the interests of farmers, labourers, traders, salaried employees and small entrepreneurs, the BJP-led government was focusing exclusively on safeguarding the interests of large business houses. He alleged that the economic policies of the present dispensation have widened the gap between the rich and the poor and concentrated wealth in the hands of a few.
The senior Congress leader said the country’s youth are facing unprecedented challenges due to rising unemployment and a lack of meaningful job opportunities. He noted that educated young people are forced to wait for years for recruitment processes to be completed, while many vacancies remain unfilled. According to him, the government has failed to present a credible roadmap for employment generation.
Bhalla further said that small traders and shopkeepers are among the worst affected by inflation and declining consumer spending. As household budgets tighten, discretionary purchases decline, hurting local markets and reducing business activity. He warned that unless immediate corrective measures are taken, economic distress among the middle and lower-income groups would continue to deepen.
He urged the Central Government to roll back fuel price hikes, strengthen public welfare measures, and adopt policies aimed at controlling inflation and creating jobs. He said the Congress party would continue to stand with the people and raise their concerns both on the streets and in democratic institutions.
Speaking on the occasion, DCC Jammu Urban President and former Minister Yogesh Sawhney said the protest was a reflection of widespread public anger over the worsening economic situation in the country. He said inflation has penetrated every aspect of daily life and is affecting families irrespective of their social or economic background.
Sawhney said the steep rise in the prices of petrol, diesel, cooking gas and other essential commodities has made it increasingly difficult for ordinary citizens to maintain their standard of living. He noted that women managing household budgets are facing immense pressure as the cost of food, education, healthcare and transportation continues to increase.
He said that while the government invests heavily in publicity campaigns, it has failed to address the real concerns of the people. “The common citizen needs relief, not rhetoric. Families want affordable essentials, secure employment and economic stability. Unfortunately, the present government has not provided effective solutions to any of these pressing problems,” he said.
Sawhney also appealed to citizens to unite against policies that, in his view, disproportionately favour a select few while ignoring the struggles of the majority. He said democratic protest remains an important means of ensuring accountability and compelling governments to respond to public concerns.
Shri Ved Mahajan in his address emphasized that the Congress party has always stood for inclusive development and social justice and would continue to raise issues affecting the poor and middle classes. He said the party would intensify its mass contact programmes and public protests until the government takes concrete steps to reduce fuel prices, curb inflation and revive the economy.
Several senior Congress leaders and functionaries also addressed the protest and echoed similar concerns over inflation, unemployment and the anti-people policies of the BJP-led government.
Those who addressed the rally included Iqbal Dar, Amrit Bali, Kapil Chib, Parveen Singh, Sandeep Dogra, Rakesh Sharma, R. S. Randhawa, Pawan Bhagat, Gurmeet Singh, Mangal Bral, Bhavishya Sudan, Sohit Sharma, Chander Shekhar, Atul Sharma, Ram Mangotra, Latish Sharma, H. S. Baggi, Ajay Kumar, Janak Raj Prabhu, Raj Kumar Sodhi, Vijayant Pathania, Paramjeet Padma, Vinod Sawhney, Gurbaksh Singh, Asha Chandan, Kamlesh Manhas, Neena Sharma and Usha Sharma.
The protest concluded with Congress leaders reaffirming their commitment to continue mobilizing public opinion against inflation and economic hardship. They warned that if the Central Government fails to address the concerns of ordinary citizens, the party will intensify its agitation across Jammu and Kashmir in the coming weeks.