Jairam Ramesh flags deteriorating security situation in Jammu region

The Congress on Saturday accused the BJP of presiding over an “unprecedented deterioration of security” in Jammu and claimed the Union Territory’s administration led by the Lieutenant Governor was showing “incompetence” in managing the situation.

Congress general secretary in-charge of communications Jairam Ramesh claimed that there has been a sharp increase in narcotics smuggling under and a collapse of governance in J&K.

Posting on the social media platform X, Jairam Ramesh wrote, “Why has the security situation in Jammu deteriorated? The BJP, despite its claims to be the monopolist of nationalism, has presided over an unprecedented deterioration of security in Jammu. Militancy in Jammu is making its presence felt after a gap of nearly 15 years. Around the start of 2024, the administration claimed that the number of active terrorists in J&K had come down to double digits—31—with four active terrorists in the Jammu region. Now, in a startling about turn, the officials say there are around 50 to 60 terrorists.” He said that the increase in terrorist activity has had “terrible consequences” for the people.

“Around the same time that the non-biological PM was being sworn in, a terrorist attack in Reasi took the lives of nine innocent pilgrims. The L-G administration has shown unprecedented incompetence in managing this security situation. Why has the BJP let security in Jammu go downhill so rapidly?” he added.

Questioning the durbar move, Ramesh asked, “What vendetta does the BJP have against the people of Jammu? One of the BJP’s flagship initiatives has been to scrap the Durbar move, the annual shift of the J&K state government from Srinagar to Jammu in the winters. The Durbar move has historically been a tremendous stimulus for Jammu’s economy, with businessmen in Jammu’s famed Raghunath Bazaar and Apsara Road waiting for winters and the bulk orders that would come in from Valley-based customers.”

He further claimed that the reason for an upsurge in terrorist activities in the region is because of the smuggling of narcotics in the region, with the international border in Jammu being a primary area of operations for smugglers.

“Without statehood and a functioning system of political representation, governance across Jammu and Kashmir has collapsed. Policing has deteriorated, and there has been a steep rise in criminal activity in Jammu. Theft and violent crime are now rampant. Corruption has reached unprecedented levels, with outsiders belonging to the RSS cabal monopolising all government contracts and seeing astronomical increases in their wealth,” he said.