Jammu, 29 January (H.S.): Congress party today organized a peaceful sit-in protest at New Plot, Jammu, under the banners of ‘MGNREGA Bachao’ and ‘Humari Riyasat, Humara Haq’.
Senior party leaders, workers and supporters participated, holding placards and raising slogans to highlight the alleged weakening of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) and the continued erosion of democratic, constitutional and economic rights in Jammu and Kashmir.
Leading the protest, JKPCC working president Raman Bhalla accused the Government of deliberately diluting MGNREGA, calling it a lifeline for rural and economically weaker households in the Union Territory. He asserted that MGNREGA is a statutory right and not a charity, and any attempt to weaken it amounts to an attack on the dignity and survival of the rural poor.
Bhalla also highlighted rising unemployment among educated youth, inflation, steep price rise of essential commodities, poor road conditions, inadequate civic amenities, irregular power and water supply, and insufficient healthcare facilities.
Raising the slogan “Humari Riyasat, Humara Haq”, Bhalla said the people of J&K are demanding respect for their rights, identity and dignity. He reiterated the Congress party’s firm demand for the restoration of full statehood and democratic rights at the earliest. Calling for immediate corrective measures, he urged the Government to strengthen MGNREGA by ensuring timely release of wages, increasing guaranteed workdays, clearing pending liabilities and allocating adequate funds.
Former minister Yogesh Sawhney said weakening MGNREGA was a direct assault on the poorest and most vulnerable sections, particularly in rural, border and remote areas. He also flagged inadequate healthcare infrastructure, shortage of doctors and medicines in Government hospitals and the growing burden of education expenses on common families.
Former JKPCC Jammu urban president Thakur Manmohan Singh said public voices were being ignored and genuine issues sidelined.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Krishan Kumar
