Poor facing immense pressure due to skyrocketing prices: Sawhney
JAMMU, May 15: The District Congress Committee Jammu Urban on Friday organised a massive protest demonstration against the BJP-led NDA Government at the Centre over soaring inflation, rising fuel prices, unemployment and alleged anti-people economic policies.
The protest was held under the leadership of Yogesh Sawhney, President DCC Jammu Urban and former Minister, and witnessed participation by senior Congress leaders, office-bearers, Mahila Wing members, youth activists and hundreds of party workers.
Protesters raised slogans against the Central Government and carried placards highlighting issues such as increasing prices of petrol and diesel, spiralling costs of essential commodities, shrinking employment opportunities and growing financial distress among ordinary households. Congress leaders alleged that despite claims of economic progress, common families are struggling to manage daily expenses.
Addressing the gathering, Raman Bhalla, Working President of the Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee and former Minister, launched a sharp attack on the BJP-led NDA Government, alleging that it has failed to fulfil its promises and has instead adopted policies benefiting influential corporate houses at the cost of common citizens.
Bhalla said that the latest increase in petroleum prices would have a cascading effect on the economy and would directly impact poor and middle-class families. He stated that rising fuel prices inevitably increase transportation costs, which in turn affect prices of vegetables, food grains, milk, medicines, construction material and other essential goods.
“The common man is being crushed under the weight of inflation. Household budgets have been shattered, savings are shrinking and the purchasing power of ordinary citizens has declined sharply,” Bhalla said while addressing the protest rally.
He further alleged that instead of safeguarding the interests of farmers, labourers, traders, salaried employees and small entrepreneurs, the government was focusing on protecting large business houses. According to him, the present economic policies have widened the gap between the rich and the poor.
The senior Congress leader also expressed concern over unemployment and said educated youth are facing unprecedented challenges due to lack of meaningful job opportunities and delays in recruitment processes. He alleged that many vacancies remain unfilled and the government has failed to provide a credible roadmap for employment generation.
Bhalla said small traders and shopkeepers are among the worst affected due to inflation and declining consumer spending. He warned that unless corrective measures are taken immediately, economic distress among middle and lower-income groups would continue to deepen.
He urged the Central Government to roll back fuel price hikes, strengthen welfare measures and adopt policies aimed at controlling inflation and generating employment opportunities. He asserted that the Congress party would continue raising the concerns of the people both on the streets and in democratic institutions.
Speaking on the occasion, Yogesh Sawhney said the protest reflected widespread public anger over the worsening economic situation in the country. He stated that inflation has affected every aspect of daily life and families across all sections of society are struggling to cope with increasing expenses.
Sawhney said the steep rise in the prices of petrol, diesel, cooking gas and other essentials has made it difficult for ordinary citizens to maintain their standard of living. He noted that women managing household budgets are under immense pressure due to rising costs of food, education, healthcare and transportation.
“The common citizen needs relief, not rhetoric. Families want affordable essentials, secure employment and economic stability. Unfortunately, the present government has not provided effective solutions to these pressing problems,” Sawhney said.
He also appealed to citizens to unite against policies which, according to him, disproportionately favour a select few while ignoring the struggles of the majority. He stressed that democratic protest remains an important means of ensuring accountability.
Ved Mahajan in his address emphasised that the Congress party has always stood for inclusive development and social justice and would continue to raise issues affecting poor and middle-class families. He said the party would intensify its public outreach programmes and protests until concrete steps are taken to reduce fuel prices, curb inflation and revive the economy.
Several senior Congress leaders and functionaries also addressed the protest and echoed concerns over inflation, unemployment and alleged anti-people policies of the BJP-led Government.
Those who addressed the rally included Iqbal Dar, Amrit Bali, Kapil Chib, Parveen Singh, Sandeep Dogra, Rakesh Sharma, R. S. Randhawa, Pawan Bhagat, Gurmeet Singh, Mangal Bral, Bhavishya Sudan, Sohit Sharma, Chander Shekhar, Atul Sharma, Ram Mangotra, Latish Sharma, H. S. Baggi, Ajay Kumar, Janak Raj Prabhu, Raj Kumar Sodhi, Vijayant Pathania, Paramjeet Padma, Vinod Sawhney, Gurbaksh Singh, Asha Chandan, Kamlesh Manhas, Neena Sharma and Usha Sharma.
The protest concluded with Congress leaders reaffirming their commitment to continue mobilising public opinion against inflation and economic hardship. They warned that if the Central Government fails to address the concerns of ordinary citizens, the party would intensify its agitation across Jammu and Kashmir in the coming weeks.