Cong Dubs Shah's Visit To J-K 'Cosmetic'; Says People Want Restoration Of Dignity

The Jammu and Kashmir Congress on Saturday termed as “cosmetic” the two-day visit of Union Home Minister Amit Shah to the Union Territory and said people want "restoration of their honour" and holding of the much-delayed assembly polls. ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
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J-K Congress working president Raman Bhalla said the frequent visits of central ministers to the region are a “futile exercise” and claimed that not a single public demand has been fulfilled even as the Jammu and Kashmir administration is directly working on the directions of the BJP. ? ? ? ? ??
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“The home minister’s visit (to Jammu and Kashmir) is cosmetic as he refuses to acknowledge the ground realities. These visits are an eyewash and a strategy to divert public attention from the government's failure,” he said while addressing a function to welcome new entrants into the party fold at Bishna near.
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“The central government should send its ministers with some funds in hand so that they can redress the public issues in a real sense. This public outreach campaign over the last couple of years has remained a flop show. High expectations of the public from these visits have also fallen flat,” Bhalla, a former minister, said. ? ?
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He also alleged that the civil administration has completely collapsed in Jammu and Kashmir.
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“It is the right time to restore the confidence of the people who are feeling sidelined with no elected representative or government in place,” he said.
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Demanding to hold the much-delayed assembly elections for the empowerment of people, he said Jammu and Kashmir's residents want the restoration of their “honour and dignity”.
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Addressing an event after the inauguration of the three-day Vitasta Festival in Srinagar, Shah on Friday said all-around development has come to Jammu and Kashmir ever since the abrogation of Article 370.?
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He also said that during the rule of the previous governments in Jammu and Kashmir, democracy was limited to 80-85 people, and three families -- the Abdullahs, Muftis, and the Gandhis -- had taken control over democracy, but now its future is decided by 35,000 elected representatives.