‘Cong stand on Art 370 crystal clear’
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 20: Newly appointed president of J&K Pradesh Congress Committee, Tariq Hameed Karra today said that the doors of his party are open for a pre-poll alliance in the Jammu and Kashmir with parties opposing BJP’s policies and style of its functioning.
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Karra also accused the BJP of destroying the communal fabric of the “Mini-India” due to its policies and said his party will continue its efforts in strengthening the Hindu-Muslim-Sikh unity in Jammu and Kashmir.
“The stand of Congress is crystal clear. We are ready to shake hands with anyone who is opposed to the BJP’s policies and way of doing things. Our doors are open for everyone who are against BJP’s agenda,” the PCC president told media-persons after addressing party workers at party office, Shahidi Chowk here today.
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When asked about the NC’s manifesto which among other things talked about restoration of Article 370, Karra said, the Congress stood with its resolution adopted by the Congress Working Committee on the next day of the abrogation of the constitutional provision in August 2019.
The CWC had deplored the “unilateral, brazen and totally undemocratic” manner in which provisions of Article 370 was abrogated and the state of Jammu and Kashmir was bifurcated by the Centre into two Union Territories.
Karra said there is a ‘feel-good’ factor prevailing in Jammu and Kashmir after the ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ of the former Congress president, Rahul Gandhi and his message of love and brotherhood is resonating everywhere.
A former MP and the CWC Member from J&K, Karra was appointed JKPCC chief on August 16 within hours after the Election Commission of India announced much-awaited Assembly elections in the J&K on September 18, 25 and October 1, with counting of votes on October 4.
Accompanied by AICC general secretary G A Mir, JKPCC working presidents, Tara Chand and Raman Bhalla and some other senior leaders, Karra was accorded a warm reception by the party leaders and workers on his arrival in Jammu from Srinagar this afternoon and he was taken in a procession from Jammu airport to party headquarters, near Shahidi Chowk, at Residency Road.
Earlier, addressing the party workers, JKPCC chief launched scathing attack on BJP and said they have disturbed the communal harmony in Jammu and Kashmir.
“If you want to harm the communal fabric, the best way possible to do it is the use of religion. J&K was known as mini-India, both geographically and religiously. This fabric was destroyed by the BJP by spreading religious hatred,” he said.
However, Karra said his party which had worked for the freedom of the country by uniting the people of all religions will continue its efforts to strengthen Hindu-Muslim-Sikh unity and will never indulge in politics based on religion.
Karra also accused the BJP of exploiting the people of Jammu region and said, “The party is now in the Government for the third-term but the ‘streams of milk and honey’ as promised by them are nowhere seen. Even, the militancy-free Jammu region is now under the grip of terrorism which is evident by frequent attacks.”
“Only the goal posts changed. The militancy shifted from Kashmir to Jammu region. They (BJP) promised to wipe out militancy, what happened to their promise. Who is responsible for whatever is happening here?” he asked.
He said the BJP also failed on development front. “The roads from airport to Raj Bhawan are very good but what about the roads in other parts of the City, roads of Poonch-Rajouri, Doda region and other hilly districts where the accidents are claiming precious lives almost on a daily basis.”
JKPCC leader also raised questions on alleged failure of the Government to provide employment to the youth and to curb high inflation, and said the BJP has no answers to it.
Karra thanked the Congress leadership for reposing faith in him and handing over the responsibility of leading the party at this crucial juncture.
Speaking on the occasion, GA Mir congratulated Karra on assuming the charge of PCC president and said “his appointment to the post was a right decision at the right time in view of the Assembly polls”.
“He resigned as Member of Parliament (in November 2016) to protest PDP-BJP alliance (in J&K) and has been associated with the Congress for the last nine years. He has been a former Minister and closely linked to the grass-root workers,” the AICC general secretary said.
Mir said the Congress is in talks with like-minded parties for a pre-poll alliance in Jammu and Kashmir to pull the region out of the crisis.
Working presidents Tara Chand, Raman Bhalla, Ex-MP Ch Lal Singh, JKPCC chief spokesperson, Ravinder Sharma, vice president Yogesh Sawhney and others also spoke on the occasion and welcomed Karra. Several senior leaders and party functionaries were present.
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