Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 10: JKPCC working president Raman Bhalla today said that Congress is the only party that can restore dignity as well as protect the identity of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
Addressing party workers at Dharap Panchayat, Miran Sahib, Kunjwani in R S Pura Jammu South constituency, Bhalla said holding the party flag high is a daunting task and that Congress’s history is rife with such numerous men who held the party flag high facing many challenges. He said it was due to the efforts of numerous Congress workers that resulted in the restoration of democracy in J&K. Congress on account of its struggle for the protection of identity and historical individuality of the people of J&K has been immortalized in the hearts and minds of people of Jammu and Kashmir.
Congress, as a legitimate and powerful voice, Bhalla added, espouses the efforts and sacrifice of various workers, some celebrated and others whose names despite being worthy of all the glory that there is remain anonymous to the masses today.
Bhalla said that the people of Jammu and Kashmir have always withstood all malicious attempts to engineer the breaking of their unified voice in the shape of Congress. “Regardless of intimidation, coercion and incessant contriving by anti-Jammu & Kashmir forces, the trust of people in it has been rising. From time-to-time people of J&K have asserted their authority, ownership of J&K by bringing Congress to power. For us power is not the ultimate goal, it is a medium to serve our people,” he added.
Bhalla castigated BJP leadership in J&K for “rubbing salt on the wounds” of gallant Dogras by celebrating Foundation Day of UT of J&K, claiming that the day has demeaned the glory of this marshal community as the erstwhile J&K State was “cut into pieces”. He said that people having the slightest idea of the formation of the erstwhile State of J&K know well how bravely Maharaja Gulab Singh and his late General Zorawar Singh had fought to expand his empire from the boundaries of Punjab upto China and Tibet making erstwhile State of J&K including Ladakh one of the biggest States in the country.