No relief to suffering people from BJP Govt: Bhalla

Former Minister Raman Bhalla listening to the grievances of the people suffering during lockdown.
Former Minister Raman Bhalla listening to the grievances of the people suffering during lockdown.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 6: Continuing distribution of ration items among needy people of Gandhi Nagar Constituency, former Minister and senior Congress leader Raman Bhalla said that the Government was not providing any relief to the worst-hit people of the Union Territory amid lockdown due to Covid-19 pandemic.
He said not even a single drop of 20 lakh crore package reached to J&K.
Today he distributed ration items at Guru Tek Bahadur Nagar and Malik Market.
He was accompanied by Block President Jatinder Chib, Aman Bawa, Jatin Vashisht, Panch Jasmeet Kour Ward-2, Mohd Hussain Pappu, Panch Parveen Kour Ward-5, Shivani Devi Harijan Mohala, Ramesh Kumar Ward -4, Mistri Mohala Narwal Bala, Chairman Rajkumar Narwal Bala, Ramesh Kumar, Gurupurab Singh Sodhi, Jasvir Singh, Panch Gagan Bral,Iqbal Singh, Sanjay Gupta Murli and Ravi Kant Verma.
Former Minister though welcomed gradual withdrawal of the lockdown, imposed to contain the spread of corona virus, reopening of Government offices across the UT but questioned Govt move as to how employees could reach to their respective offices in absence of public transport.
He asked the UT administration to come up with a pragmatic mechanism to address all the issues in tandem with the sentiments and emotions of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
“Absence of any authorised Government declaration on these sensitive issues coupled with rhetorical statements and assurances by Jammu-based BJP leaders on policy matters bereft of any constitutional authority have lead to confusion and created apprehensions and misgivings in the minds of the locals of J&K particularly the youth,” he said.
Bhalla asked Govt to give major thrust to focus on the public issues, which have remained unattended during previous PDP-BJP regime and ignored even under Governor’s Rule.
Seeking intervention of Lt Governor, GC Murmu, Bhalla claimed that people were not happy with the working style of J&K machinery.
“The public issues have remained unaddressed. It seems Govt has no road map for the empowerment of the PRIs in the Jammu and Kashmir. All the councilors of JMC irrespective of political affiliations are facing problem due to shortage of funds for developmental activities,” he said.
Bhalla said neither Govt of India nor LG was serious about the release of funds in favour of Jammu Municipal Corporation. This is glaring example of discrimination with the people of Jammu, adding that JMC always talk of clean Jammu and green Jammu, but how clean Jammu was possible without sufficient strength of SKC’s.
“While people are still waiting for their concerns of basic needs such as jobs, housing, power, transport and water supply to be addressed, the government is using public money on events and celebrations,” he added.