Congress leaders detained as police foils march to Raj Bhawan in Jammu

Congress workers protest in J&K against rising terror incidents and unbridled powers to L-G, leaders detained by police.

Scores of Congress leaders were detained on July 18 as the police foiled their attempt to ‘gherao’ the Raj Bhawan in Jammu and Kashmir to protest the BJP-led Centre’s alleged failure to curb terrorism and give all powers to the Lieutenant Governor ahead of the upcoming Assembly polls. 

Hundreds of Congress workers led by AICC in-charge J&K affairs Bharat Singh Solanki, Pradesh Congress Committee president Vikar Rasool Wani and several other former Ministers and ex-legislators came out of the party headquarters at Residency Road and began marching towards the Raj Bhawan.

However, they were stopped by the police personnel, who were deployed in strength but the agitated and slogan shouting participants passed the barricades and walked for nearly one kilometre before their leaders were detained and whisked away in police vehicles. 

The protest marked the start of planned agitation by the Congress to mobilise public support against rising terror incidents, granting of unbridled powers to the lieutenant governor and restoration of full statehood before the Assembly elections. 

“All tall claims of the BJP, especially post 2019, development have fallen flat before the growing terror incidents in otherwise peaceful Jammu region. Giving all powers to the Lt. Governor means governing J&K from Delhi even after the formation of a popular government which is against democracy,” Mr. Solanki told reporters in Jammu. 

He said the Congress stands with the people, who are suffering immensely due to the rise in terror activities, inflation and unemployment. 

“Jammu region was cleared of terrorism during the Congress-led UPA government. The revival of terrorism in the peaceful Jammu region is a serious cause of concern and shows the failure of this government,” Mr. Solanki added.