Congress accuses BJP of 'denting' Dogra pride

The Jammu and Kashmir Congress today accused the BJP, an ally in the PDP-led coalition government in the state, of "denting Dogra pride" and failing to declare Maharaja Hari Singh's birthday as a public holiday.
Addressing Congress workers on the occasion Maharaja Hari Singh's birth anniversary celebrations here, senior party leader and former minister Raman Bhalla said it was unfortunate that the BJP-PDP government failed to declare the last Dogra king's birth anniversary as a public holiday.
"The BJP had mesmerised and lured the people of Jammu region with its seductive slogans during elections and then inflicted the biggest dent upon Dogra pride by succumbing on almost all Jammu-based issues for the lust of power," he said.

The BJP had bagged 25 of the 37 seats in Jammu region in 2014 assembly elections.
Bhalla said the Dogra king was a good administrator and his rules and regulations are followed to this day in the state, but the ruling coalition is "in no mood to honour him for his contributions".
"A resolution was passed in the State Legislative Council for observing a holiday on the Maharajah's birthday, but the government failed to implement it. In doing so, it hurt the sentiments of the people here," he said.

Bhalla alleged that the Public Service Commission is indulging in grave violation of the rules and regulations with a view to help the candidates of Kashmir region thereby depriving the deserving Jammu candidates of their dues.

"The Jammu and Kashmir Government has completed the entire process for engagement of over 4,000 Special Police Officers (SPO) across Kashmir while candidates from Jammu region still wait for their turn," he claimed, adding the youths of Jammu are facing "grave injustice" for the last three years and "the BJP is doing nothing about it".
Seeking public support to strengthen his party, Bhalla said, "The Congress is the only credible voice of the people of the region."
He also urged people to expose politics of opportunism.
"The ministers of the coalition government should keep in mind that that they are enjoying power because people voted for them. They should respect the sentiments of the people on the matter," Bhalla said.

The Congress leader also said people, irrespective of caste, creed, religion or region, held Maharajah Hari Singh in high regard and any move to scuttle the resolution could lead to disastrous consequences.
"There was no opposition to the state holiday resolution in the Kashmir valley. It is very unfortunate that instead of recognising services of the revolutionary and social reformer ruler, the BJP skirted the issue," he said.
Criticising the overall functioning of the state government, Bhalla alleged it is not performing according to the Agenda of Alliance and farmers, the business community and students are "fed up" with this "non-performing government".

"This government has failed on all fronts, be it providing basic facilities to the people or paying salaries to the daily wagers or checking price hike of essential commodities," he said.
Asserting that discrimination against educated unemployed youths of Jammu region had "aggravated" during the BJP-PDP rule, Bhalla claimed the government has earmarked Rs 860.27 crore for Jammu region under revenue head but has set apart Rs 1502.11 crore for Kashmir region.