Congress march over terror foiled, several detained near Raj Bhawan

Jammu, July 18

Several Congress leaders were detained by the Jammu police on Thursday as the police foiled their attempt to ‘gherao’ the Raj Bhawan to protest the BJP-led Union government’s alleged failure to curb terrorism and give all powers to the lieutenant governor ahead of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly poll.

Hundreds of Congress workers led by AICC incharge of J&K affairs Bharat Sinh Solanki, Pradesh Congress Committee president Vikar Rasool Wani along with AICC secretary Manoj Yadav, working president Raman Bhalla and several other former ministers and ex-legislators came out of the party headquarters at Residency Road and held a protest demonstration against terror attacks besides seeking restoration of statehood.

Police had a tough time foiling the Congress march to Raj Bhawan as the agitated protesters broke the police cordon from Shaheedi Chowk Jammu to Raghunath Bazaar. They held a sit in for over an hour at the Raghunath Mandir Chowk before being taken into custody by police and taken to District Police Lines, Jammu.

The protest marked the start of planned agitation by the Congress to mobilise public support against rising terror incidents, granting of unbridled powers to the lieutenant governor and restoration of full statehood before the Assembly election.

“A strong protest demonstration was taken out by the Congress workers in Jammu city over the issue of rising terrorism and failure of BJP-led Union government besides opposing the recent order snatching powers of elected government and seeking restoration of statehood,” said Raman Bhalla. He said that a large number of senior Congress leaders, including women from different districts and blocks of Jammu province took part in the protest.

“All tall claims of the BJP, especially post 2019 development have fallen flat before the growing terror incidents in otherwise peaceful Jammu region. Giving all powers to the Lt Governor means governing J&K from Delhi even after the formation of a popular government which is against democracy,” Solanki said.

He said the Congress stands with the people, who are suffering immensely due to the rise in terror activities, inflation and unemployment. “Jammu region was cleared of terrorism during the Congress-led UPA government. The revival of terrorism in the peaceful Jammu region is a serious cause of concern and shows the failure of this government,” he added.

PCC president Wani also came down heavily on the BJP and said five years have passed since the abrogation of Article 370 but there is no end to terrorism which is spreading fast to new areas across the Union Territory.

“Jammu and Kashmir was known as the crown of India but the BJP’s policies have destroyed it and also dishonoured its people. If all the powers will remain with the L-G, what is the fun of holding the Assembly election,” he said.

Wani said the Congress will intensify the agitation by taking it to the district headquarters and block level in the coming days.