Bhalla slams BJP for betraying Jammu region,cites neglect in development projects
Jammu, June 24: In a scathing attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), former minister and working president of the Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC), Raman Bhalla, accused the party’s local leadership of betraying the people of the Jammu region.
Addressing workers of Jammu South-RS Pura constituency, Bhalla expressed deep regret over the BJP’s failure to fulfill the aspirations of the region’s residents despite securing a strong mandate in the recent Assembly and Lok Sabha elections.
Bhalla highlighted the Union Government’s recent approval of over Rs 10,500 crore for road connectivity projects as a glaring example of the neglect faced by Jammu.
“Once again, the Jammu region has been completely ignored in the allocation of critical development funds,” he said, pointing out that the region has been consistently overlooked under the BJP’s watch. He attributed this to the “gross failure” of local BJP leaders, who, he claimed, have failed to advocate effectively for the region’s interests at the central level.
“The people of Jammu placed their faith in the BJP, giving them a clear mandate to represent their interests. However, the party’s leadership has let them down, leaving the region to bear the brunt of discriminatory policies,” Bhalla stated.
He further criticized BJP MLAs and leaders for prioritizing “cheap publicity” over addressing the genuine concerns of their constituents. “Instead of working tirelessly to fulfill the promises made during elections, they are busy chasing headlines and photo opportunities,” he added.
The JKPCC leader emphasized that the people of Jammu deserve tangible development, including better infrastructure, improved connectivity, and equitable resource allocation.
He called on the BJP to stop taking the region’s mandate for granted and urged them to take immediate steps to address the growing discontent among residents.
Bhalla also appealed to the public to hold the BJP accountable for their inaction.
“The people of Jammu have been patient for too long. It is time for the BJP to deliver on their promises and prioritize the development of this region,” he said, vowing that the Congress would continue to raise these issues and fight for the rights of Jammu’s residents.
“Today, the people of Jammu stand betrayed by the BJP—a party they supported in 2014 and 2024 with great hope and expectation. Over the past decade, Jammu’s voices have been drowned out, its needs sidelined, and its aspirations completely ignored by those who once promised development and progress”, he said, adding, “Despite making grand promises—promising the moon during every election—the BJP has miserably failed to deliver on even the most basic needs of everyday citizens.
“It is nothing but a betrayal. We were led to believe that our votes would translate into meaningful change—a decline in unemployment, better infrastructure, and upliftment of our rural communities. Instead, we have endured unmet promises, broken trusts, and anti‑Jammu decisions that leave our people disheartened and disillusioned”, he said.
Bhalla urged the people of Jammu to remember these repeated broken promises. “Let us unite and hold the BJP accountable in the upcoming elections. It’s time to teach them a lesson for playing politics with our futures, for using Jammu as a vote bank during elections only to abandon us afterward”, he said.
