Kathua, 03 September (H.S.): The Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee president Tariq Hameed Karra questioned the double standards of BJP for remaining silent on core issue of restoration of statehood, stating that BJP's hypocracy is exposed over its protest today after having failed on public issues during 12 years of `double-engine' system of BJP.

Addressing a large gathering of Congress workers at Kathua to felicitate the newly appointed office bearers of the DCC and BCCs in the district JKPCC chief hit out at BJP for betrayal on the issue of restoration of statehood and questioned the criminal silence of 29 BJP legislators and other top BJP leaders after getting people's mandate on this core issue of people of J&K and said that BJP has itself exposed by today's protest over issues, which BJP failed to address during 12 years of its double engine Govt at the Centre.

He said that BJP owes an answer to their commitment of restoration of statehood immediately after Assembly elections but even after two years of an elected Government taking over, the BJP leaders are maintaining criminal silence over the issue of restoration of statehood.

Karra said that BJP promised a lot to the youth of J&K at the time of abrogation of special status and downgrading of the historical state in 2019 but failed to deliver on those promises and now trying to divert the attention of the people especially youth who are facing record unemployment apart from paper leaks and recruitment scams under UT rule. He said that Congress stands for accountability of the system but BJP has to start from its own house. The people are sandwiched between two power centers in the absence of statehood for which Centre Government and BJP is squarely responsible and answerable to the people of J&K.

Working president Raman Bhalla lauded the DCC for organizing the programme to felicitate the newly appointed office bearers of the party and said that Congress has revamped the organization at the grass root levels. He said party shall be further strengthened at all levels to fight out communal and divisive forces. Bhalla said that BJP exposed on paper leaks, Chanda Chori and anti-dalits mind-set and trying to distort and divert the attention of people.

Former MP Ch Lal Singh lashed out at BJP for downgrading the historical Dogra state and snatching all rights of our identity, dignity and status. He alleged that Jal, Jungle, Jameen and Jobs of the youth are being looted and snatched under BJP rule. He said that Congress shall continue to fight for safeguarding the rights, status and identity of Dogra state.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Krishan Kumar