 Early Times Report
JAMMU, June 23: Rattan Lal Gupta, Provincial President of the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference, on Tuesday launched a strong critique of the BJP, alleging that its decade-long rule has "failed farmers" and left them under mounting distress instead of delivering on its promise to double their income.
He made these remarks while interacting with party functionaries from the Balwal block, who met him under the leadership of Sukhdev Singh Langeh Block President Bhalwal and other local representatives at Sher-e- Kashmir Bhavan, Jammu. On the occasion scores of political activists and farmers joined the party fold.
Gupta said there is growing public disillusionment with the BJP's policies, particularly among farmers, who he claimed are increasingly turning towards the National Conference."The BJP led Govt in Centre has failed to work for farmers; it has worked against them," Gupta said, citing the new-repealed farm laws, lack of a statutory Minimum Support Price (MSP) at 50% above C2 cost, and policies that, according to him, have weakened cultivators while favouring corporate interests.
He asserted that instead of doubling farmers' incomes, the BJP government's policies at the Centre pushed them deeper into debt and uncertainty. Referring to trade-related concerns, he said that recent liberalisation measures and import pressures could further impact local agriculture, especially crops such as rice grown in Jammu. He questioned what options would remain for regional farmers if domestic markets are opened to subsidised imports.
Gupta also criticised the BJP central government over the prolonged water scarcity in the Kandi region, saying long-standing irrigation proposals had not been implemented despite being submitted years ago. "Promised lift irrigation projects never materialised, leaving rural areas neglected," he said.
He further alleged that Jammu has "lost a decade of development" due to what he termed BJP's mismanagement, though he added that the Omar Abdullah-led administration is now attempting to address key issues such as connectivity, drinking water, and agrarian distress.
On this occasion various prominent farmers joined National Conference. The names are Parveen Singh, Pinto Singh, Sunil Sharma, Pawan Kumar, Sanjay Kumar, Jaswant Lal, Tersham Lal, Akash Verma, Shubam Kumar.
Among others who were present : Sheikh Bashir Ahmad Provincial Secretary Jammu, Bimla Luthra former MLA, Pardeep Bali Provincial Secretary , Vijay Lochan Chairman SC Cell, Rakesh Singh Raka, Rita Gupta Vice Presidents Central Zone, Rajni Devi Working President Women Wing Jammu, Subash Chander Bhagat District President Jammu Rural "A", S. Gurnam Singh District Secretary Jammu Urban, Rajesh Bakshi , Rahul Attri, and others. |
