Jammu, May 3: Congress on Monday said it is the National Conference that lagged behind in the struggle for restoration of statehood while Congress has always remained on the forefront and on the streets for this demand, right from day one .
Reacting to the statement of NC President Dr Farooq Abdullah, Congress said that he is diverting attention of the people in view of great resentment over non fulfilment of the demand by the centre and failure to build strong movement on the ground.
Congress working President Raman Bhalla said Congress didn't even join the cabinet, which is the right of every pre-poll alliance partner, after attaining majority in elections.
“It was only to expose the BJP government on which had committed to restore statehood immediately after Assembly elections, but has not honoured the same,” he said.
“Since then the Congress party intensified its struggle under the slogan " Hamari Riyasat Hamara Haq " in many phases including chain hunger strike, Srinagar Chalo, Jammu Chalo and Delhi Chalo call , where our senior central leadership, on the directions of top leadership joined our protest demonstration at Jantar Mantar and march to Parliament ,giving nationwide attention to the most legitimate demand of people of J&K ,exposing the betrayal of Modi government to honour its commitments on the floor of Parliament , in public domain besides before Supreme Court,” he said.
Bhalla said Congress top leadership including president Malikarjun Kharge and LOP Rahul Gandhi wrote an open letter to the Prime Minister to honour his public commitments regarding grant of statehood , on the eve of JK Congress protest outside Parliament House.
“Unfortunately, at that time too, our alliance partner NC raised questions over Congress' struggle for statehood, instead of appreciating or extending support to our struggle,” he said.
Bhlla said Congress offered NC leadership to lead the struggle extending full support, as it is not only issue of Congress alone but for 1.40 cr people of J&K, for which not only Congress but all parties committed to fight at the time of elections, although BJP backed out later after getting mandate in Jammu but failing in its dream to gain majority.
He said instead of passing on the buck to the INDIA Block, the NC should tell people what it did to achieve the goal except occasionally raising the issue. “What happened to its signature campaign which didn't land anywhere.”
Taking a dig at NC, he said Statehood can't be achieved by showering praises on the Modi government, which betrayed the people of J&K on restoration of statehood.