Jammu, September 10: Appreciating the people of Jammu for maintaining their traditional composite culture against all odds, former Congress President Shri Rahul Gandhi today cautioned the people against the dangers to the composite culture.
Addressing a party delegates Convention at JK Resorts, Trikuta Nagar Jammu today, Shri Rahul Gandhi said that the biggest challenge to the composite culture of the country, is from BJP’s style of politics. He exhorted the party cadres to stay strong against the onslaught of BJP and RSS, to safeguard the composite culture of this country which is the strength of our nation.
Shri Gandhi said that he has come amongst them after paying obeisance at the holy shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi Ji, a symbol of faith and strength (Shakti). He referred to the symbol of the hand of the Indian National Congress and said that on one hand it denotes blessings from all Gods and Goddesses, but it also signifies to fight for truth and justice and urged the Congress workers to stay strong to fight for truth and justice.
Tracing the roots of his family to Jammu and Kashmir, he said that whenever he visits here, he feels like coming home. He said that his family has a bond with Kashmir and Kashmiri Pandits and he feels the pain of displaced people and realizes the need to do a lot more to ameliorate the displaced communities.
Referring to the downgrading of the historical state of Jammu and Kashmir into UT and the need to restore statehood at the earliest, he said that the BJP government has given one after another blow to the people and snatched their strength and deprived them of their means of livelihood.
Rahul said that Congress launched various schemes including MGNERGA which empowered the people and provided a source of livelihood to crores of people while the BJP government has disempowered people by various wrong steps like demonetization and unprecedented price hike and overburdened the common man of this country.
Giving credit to the party workers for the achievements of the Congress party and the massive development undertaken during its power, he said that workers are the real strength of the Congress party, who bring the party to power and empower the leadership to deliver to the needs and expectations of people.
Earlier, Former Chief Minister and Ex-Leader of opposition in Rajaya Sabha Shri Ghulam Nabi Azad, AICC incharge J&K Affairs Smt. Rajni Patil, JKPCC Chief G.A.Mir, CWC Member Tariq Hamid Karra, Former Dy. Chief Minister Tara Chand, Vice President PCC and Former Ministers Mula Ram, Raman Bhalla, G.M.Saroori, IYC Chief B.V. Srinivas, National President NSUI Neeraj Kundan, Th. Balwan Singh Ex-MLA spoke on the occasion, while a galaxy of senior leaders and former ministers were on the Dias.
On his arrival, Shri Rahul Gandhi was welcomed at the stage by the PCC and DCC Jammu by presenting a big garland and wearing of traditional ‘Dogra Pagri’ by incharge DCC Jammu (Urban) Yogesh Sawhney and others.