18-04-2023 : In a powerful display of protest, members of the Jammu District Congress marched towards the official residence of the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday, as part of the ‘Jai Bharat Satyagraha’ campaign. Led by PCC President Vikar Rasool Vani, Secretary AICC Manoj Yadav, PCC Working President Raman Bhalla, former Ministers Mula Ram and Yogesh Sawhney, and other leaders, the protesters raised their voices against the central government.
Despite heavy police deployment and road blockades, the determined protesters marched from Shaheedi Chowk to the LG house, holding placards and raising slogans. They demanded the restoration of statehood for J&K and an inquiry into the Pulwama Attack in light of the comments made by former Governor Satyapal Malik.
Speaking to the media, JKPCC President Vikar Rasool Wani demanded a response from the Center, describing Malik’s comments as “deeply disturbing.” He emphasized that the lives of the martyrs lost in the attack should not be disrespected and called for an immediate inquiry to ascertain the accuracy of Malik’s claims. He further criticized the BJP leadership for ignoring the revelations made and stressed that the people need urgent answers concerning the security issue and the honor of the martyred jawans.
Highlighting the seriousness of the allegations, the Congress leader pointed out that Malik, having served as the Governor of four states, had firsthand experience of the situation in J&K at the time of the attack. He alleged that PM Modi had asked Malik to maintain silence on the Pulwama attack and that the Home Ministry had rejected a proposal to fly down the jawans instead of having them travel by road, which cannot be ignored by the Government.
Working President Raman Bhalla condemned the Union Government, describing it as “corrupt and ignorant,” and called for a high-level probe into the Pulwama attack. Senior Congress leader Manoj Yadav, Secretary AICC, raised questions about whether intelligence inputs had been ignored by the Modi Government prior to the Pulwama incident. Former Minister Yogesh Sawhney expressed shock at the lack of response from the government to the significant statement made by the former Governor, and stressed the need for answers without resorting to “white lies” and manipulation of people’s sentiments by the Modi Government.