STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: Congress on Sunday made a scathing attack on BJP for its complete silence on the failure of government in ensuring smooth conduct of Amarnath Yatra. A number of senior Congress leaders in a joint statement issued here said that this was perhaps for the first time in the history of Holy Amarnath Yatra that because of lack of security arrangements, at many places, the devotees were attacked, tortured and beaten mercilessly. The Congress leaders questioned those in the Government, who were responsible to maintain smooth and peaceful conduct of this Holy Yatra and especially the role of BJP, who were watching this shabby treatment meted out to the Yatris sitting like lame ducks.
The Congress leaders expressed shock and anguish over the complete breakdown of the State Government machinery and its inability to handle the law and order in the State resulting in a total chaotic situation prevailing for last one week. They strongly felt that, the valley is facing a situation like 1991-92 and this is, as a result of non-serious and lackadaisical approach of the BJP-PDP coalition government. They however, appreciated the role of Security Forces, who have shown a great courage in dealing with situation, and saving the lives of many innocent people. They expressed condolences, to those innocent civilians, as well as security personnel, whose precious lives were martyred, because of this ugly situation. They appealed to the people to maintain calm, peace and communal harmony at all costs. They asked the Security Personnel to observe maximum restraint, so that no innocent life is lost anymore. At the same time, The Congress Leaders felt that nobody should sympathise with the Anti-National elements, and there is no room for hypocrisy at any level.
The Congress Leaders reminded the ideologically opposed, BJP and PDP, to remember their “Agenda of Alliance based on Development”, and do not waste their energy on “Transfers” of Employees only. The prominent signatories to the statement included Tara Chand Former Dy. CM, Jugal Kishore Sharma , MLC and CLP Leader in Council, Mula Ram, R.S Chib and Dr. Manohar Lal Sharma, all Former Ministers, Thakur Hari Singh Former Vice-President J&K PCC, Arvinder Singh Micky, Former Deputy Chairman Legislative Council, Balwan Singh, General Secretary PCC and Ex-MLA, Jagdish Raj Sapolia and Ashok Sharma both Ex-MLAs, Subash Gupta Ex-MLC, Vinod Mishra , Advocate Maheswar Singh, Amolak Singh and Darshan Raina all Ex-General Secretaries PCC, Master Tasaddaq Hussain, Advocate Mahinder Bhardawaj, Arun Sharma, Brij Mohan Sharma, Shiv Kumar Sharma, President INTUC, Sardari Lal Dubey, Ashok Dubey and Lala Devi Dass.
