Jammu – November 7: Reaffirming the party’s steadfast commitment to constitutional democracy, Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) President Tariq Hameed Karra declared that the Congress will relentlessly fight against alleged electoral manipulations and safeguarding the voting rights of every citizen.
Addressing a large party convention at Akhnoor organized by newly appointed Chairman of JKPCC Scheduled Caste Department, Ashok Bhagat, Karra asserted that nationwide campaigns led by Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi have exposed the systematic disenfranchisement of citizens. He alleged that over 13 crore people across the country have faced arbitrary deletions and voting hurdles under the current central dispensation in coordination with electoral authorities.
“The right to vote is the most sacred cornerstone of a functional democracy. Any coordinated assault to distort this fundamental right strikes at the core of the Constitution, and Congress, alongside like-minded democratic forces, will never allow this to continue unchallenged,” Karra stated, citing widespread public mobilization at recent democratic rallies in the national capital.
Reiterating the party’s core agenda for the region, Karra emphasized that the immediate restoration of full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir remains non-negotiable. He observed that the unilateral downgrading of Jammu and Kashmir into Union Territories has severely undermined democratic accountability, economic stability, and the constitutional rights of the local populace.
During the gathering, JKPCC Working President Raman Bhalla raised the long-stalled railway connectivity project connecting Rajouri and Poonch via Akhnoor and Sunderbani. Bhalla criticized the BJP-led central government for keeping the vital border rail infrastructure project pending for more than 13 years without clearances, ignoring the strategic defense and socioeconomic needs of the border belt.
Paying homage to veteran political stalwarts, the leadership recalled the enduring public service of former four-time Akhnoor MLA, the late Pt. Dharampal Sharma, and former MP, the late Madan Lal Sharma, emphasizing that Akhnoor and Chhamb remain traditional bastions of the Congress party. The meeting was attended by senior leaders including former ministers Mula Ram and Ravinder Sharma, DCC President Jammu (Rural) Neeraj Kundan, alongside district office bearers and party functionaries.
Published by True Roots Media