New Delhi, Aug 05: Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has criticized the BJP’s handling of Jammu and Kashmir (J-K) and Ladakh, stating that the party’s policies fail to respect ‘Kashmiriyat’ and do not uphold ‘Jamhuriyat’ (democracy). Kharge’s comments were made on the fifth anniversary of the abrogation of Article 370 and the reorganization of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories: J-K and Ladakh.
Kharge expressed his concerns in a post on X, stating, “The BJP’s policy on Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh neither respects ‘Kashmiriyat’ nor upholds ‘Jamhuriyat’ (democracy).” He criticized the Modi government’s promises of integration, economic development, and combating terrorism, arguing that the actual outcomes have been disappointing.
Since 2019, there have been 683 fatal terror attacks, leading to the deaths of 258 security personnel and 170 civilians. Kharge noted that in the Jammu region alone, 25 terror attacks since Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s third term have resulted in 15 soldier deaths and 27 injuries.
Kharge also highlighted a rise in targeted killings of Kashmiri Pandits and the significant vacancies in government positions, with 65% of such posts unfilled since 2019. Unemployment rates in the region are troubling, with an overall rate of 10% and youth unemployment at 18.3%.
The Congress chief criticized the New Industrial Policy of 2021 for its lackluster impact, with only 3% of projected investments realized. Additionally, he mentioned that 40% of the projects under the PM’s Development Package of 2015 remain incomplete.
Kharge pointed out that the net state domestic product (NSDP) growth rate of Jammu and Kashmir has declined from 13.28% (April 2015-March 2019) to 8.73% post-2019. He emphasized that people from Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, who voiced their desire for normalcy during Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra, are yearning for timely elections.
The Congress is calling for the elections to be conducted by the Supreme Court’s deadline to allow residents to elect their representatives, secure constitutional rights, and end the current bureaucratic rule. The Indian National Congress reaffirms its support for the people of these regions, asserting their integral place in India.
Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir will be the first since the abrogation of Article 370 and the division of the state into two Union Territories in 2019. Last December, the Supreme Court directed the Election Commission to hold these elections by September 30.
