“Democracy Under Attack”, says Ex-Minister Raman Bhalla Bhalla in Jammu

Diplomat Correspondent

Jammu: DD, Jammu & Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) Working President, Raman Bhalla today launched a Signature Campaign against alleged “vote theft” at Gangyal.
The programme, organized by Block President Sanjeev Katal, witnessed the participation of a large number of Congress workers and local residents.

Speaking on the occasion, Bhalla strongly criticized the Central Government, saying, “The real face of those who come to power by stealing people’s votes must now be exposed before the nation.”

Bhalla said that the signature campaign was not against any individual but aimed at safeguarding democracy.

He remarked, “Stealing votes is not just an insult to the people — it is a direct attack on democracy itself.” He urged Congress workers to reach every village and town to make people aware, ensuring that no power can suppress the public’s voice in the upcoming elections.

Bhalla also lashed out at the Central Government for its apathy towards families affected by the recent floods in Jammu & Kashmir. He said, “The Central Government is limited to promises and publicity. Thousands of affected families are still waiting for help, but Delhi remains silent.”
He demanded adequate compensation for victims and called for transparency in relief operations.

Taking a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Bhalla said, “When Jammu & Kashmir was in crisis, the Prime Minister did not even bother to visit. This clearly shows his disconnect from the pain of the people.”
He added that the Prime Minister visits the region only during elections but remains silent when people suffer — a silence, he said, that “hurts more than words.”

The Congress leader also criticized the recent GST policy changes, calling them disastrous for small traders and local industries. He said the government was serving the interests of big corporates while ignoring small shopkeepers, traders, and the middle class struggling under pressure.

Bhalla reiterated that taking away Jammu & Kashmir’s statehood has deeply hurt both its identity and the rights of its people.
He accused the Central Government of weakening democratic institutions and imposing every decision directly from Delhi. “Without the restoration of statehood, democracy in Jammu & Kashmir remains incomplete,” he added.

He further accused the Centre of pushing Jammu and Kashmir towards political and economic collapse, saying unemployment is at its peak, inflation has broken people’s backs, and the youth’s future stands jeopardized. “When there are no jobs, farmers are distressed, and traders are struggling — what kind of development is the government talking about?” he questioned.

Concluding his address, Bhalla said the Congress Party would continue to be the voice of the people. “We are not afraid. If the Central Government believes that propaganda can hide the truth, it is living in an illusion,” he said, assuring that the movement will continue across the Union Territory and that the fight against vote theft will become a fight for justice.

Those present on the occasion included Ex-Chairman JMC Satish Sharma, Baldev Singh Wazir, Sanjeev Katal, Janak Raj, Suman Preet Singh, Nagar Mal, Ludarmani Sharma, Darshan Kumar, Subhash Chander, Vipin Sangral, Karan Samrat, Dinesh Sharma, Om Parkash Sharma, Rashpal Verma, Sawarn Kumar, Ashok Chib, Shamsher Kumar, and Sat Pal Verma, along with several senior Congress leaders and workers.

All of them echoed that the Congress Party will continue fighting for the rights of the people and that the battle against vote theft will go on. (press release)