Diplomat Correspondent
Jammu: The Congress Party today held an extensive review meeting to evaluate the progress and impact of its ongoing mass contact programmes—MGNREGA Bachao Sangram and “Humari Riyasat, Hamara Haq” campaign—while also taking serious note of the growing public resentment over frequent power cuts and unresolved local issues.
The meeting was chaired by Working President PCC Raman Bhalla, presided by former minister J&K and President DCC Jammu (Urban) Yogesh Sawhney, and joined by Ex-Ministers Mula Ram, G M Saroori, Gurbachan Kumari Rana, Th. Manmohan Singh, senior party functionaries, block presidents, and grassroots workers. The deliberations focused on strengthening organisational preparedness, sharpening issue-based agitation, and ensuring that people’s concerns are effectively taken up at administrative and political levels.
Addressing the meeting, Working President PCC Raman Bhalla said that the MGNREGA Bachao Sangram is not merely a political campaign but a struggle to safeguard the economic survival of lakhs of rural families.
He alleged that the BJP-led central government has systematically weakened MNREGA through delayed wage payments, reduced employment opportunities, and complex digital procedures that exclude the poorest.
He stressed that Congress workers must remain vigilant and ensure that every eligible household receives its due entitlement under the Act.
Speaking on the occasion, Mula Ram highlighted various local issues raised during interactions with residents, including poor infrastructure, delays in welfare schemes, lack of employment opportunities for youth, and inadequate civic amenities.
He said the feedback gathered during the campaigns clearly shows widespread dissatisfaction with governance and assured that these concerns would be systematically documented and raised before the concerned authorities.
He reaffirmed the Congress Party’s commitment to sustained struggle for justice, dignity, and development for the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
Presiding over the meeting, Yogesh Sawhney expressed serious concern over the worsening power situation, stating that unscheduled and prolonged power cuts have made life miserable for residents, traders, students, and industrial units alike.
He said despite tall claims of development, people are facing inflated electricity bills without reliable supply, which reflects administrative apathy and poor planning. He said unemployment, price rise, and failing public services have pushed common people into distress, yet the government remains disconnected from ground realities.
Also speaking in the meeting, ex-Minister G M Saroori said the “Humari Riyasat, Hamara Haq” campaign reflects the collective sentiment of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, who are demanding restoration of democratic rights, respect for constitutional guarantees, and accountable governance. He said the campaign will be taken to every village and ward to expose what he termed as the failure of the present dispensation to address both political aspirations and basic civic needs.
Also speaking in the meeting, senior leaders Gurbachan Kumari Rana and Th. Manmohan Singh, called upon Congress cadres to intensify peaceful agitations, door-to-door outreach, and awareness drives so that public pressure forces the administration to act.
He reiterated that the Congress will stand firmly with the people until tangible relief is delivered. They also urged party workers to combine mass movements with constructive dialogue wherever possible.
Other leaders T.S. Tony DDC, Vijay Sharma, Iqbal Dar, Varinder Manhas, Rajesh Sharma, Sanjeev Sharma (Panda),Rajinder Singh Jamwal, Block President Latish Sharma, Rakesh Sharma, Chander Shekhar, Pardeep Bhalla, Pawan Sharma, Ram Magotra, Sanjeev Katal, Gurmeet Singh, Nageshwar and Ajay Kumar, Jugal Kishore Sharma, Sandeep Dogra, Pawan Dev Singh, Gurbaksh Singh, Ashok Kumar Sharma, Arun Nayar, Manmohan Sharma, Vijay Malhotra, Jatinder Singh, Paras Ram, Parbat Grese, Anuradha Sharma, Sat Pal Sapolia, Ravi Kumar, Amerjeet Singh, Janak Raj, Jagdish Kashyap, Gurdeep Singh,Jasbir Singh, Atul Sharma, Pawan Sharma, Sumit Vaid, S. Praveen Singh, Ashwani Kumar, Prem, Vijay Kumar, Kewal Krishan Jogi, Rajinder Singh Randwah, Kewal Krishan, Paramjeet Singh , Manjit Singh, Zahur Tantery, Dara Singh, Praveen Basotra, Amit Gupta, Raj Kumar Sodi, Subash Chander, Manvir Singh, Qadir Hussain and others attended the meeting.DD