Srinagar, Nov 14 (KNS): Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) president Tariq Hameed Karra on Saturday questioned the Centre's claims of normalcy in Jammu and Kashmir following recent attacks on security personnel, alleging that such incidents exposed failures in the government's security policies and contradicted the BJP's portrayal of peace in the region.
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‎Speaking to reporters, Karra said the BJP-led government had repeatedly cited the absence of strikes, closure of schools and disruption of markets as evidence of normalcy in Jammu and Kashmir, but recent security incidents raised questions about those claims.
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‎"Whenever such things happen, the Government of India comes under question," Karra said, referring to the recent attacks involving CRPF personnel.
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‎He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah had repeatedly maintained that Kashmir was peaceful, pointing to the functioning of schools, markets and other institutions.
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‎"They count that there are no strikes, schools are not closed and markets are open. But they are forgetting that what is happening in Jammu and Kashmir is deceptive," he alleged.
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‎Karra said the recurrence of such incidents raised serious questions about the government's assessment of the security situation.
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‎"If everything is peaceful, how do such incidents happen?" he asked.
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‎The Congress leader accused the BJP of projecting an inaccurate picture of the situation in Jammu and Kashmir at the international level, claiming that security incidents exposed weaknesses in the government's policies.
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‎He alleged that the Centre's approach towards Jammu and Kashmir had failed to address underlying security concerns despite repeated assertions that the situation had improved.
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‎"Such incidents expose the tall claims of the BJP. They show that everything is not hunky-dory," Karra said.
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‎He further described the attacks as a failure of the security apparatus and the policies adopted by the Government of India.
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‎The Congress leader made the remarks while speaking to reporters on the birth anniversary of India's first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru.
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‎Paying tribute to Nehru, Karra credited him with laying the foundations of modern India and strengthening democratic institutions after independence.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel
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‎He said Nehru was among the senior leaders of India's freedom struggle who had made significant sacrifices before becoming the country's first Prime Minister.
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‎Karra said the political and democratic foundations established during Nehru's leadership were subsequently carried forward by former Prime Ministers Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi, among other Congress leaders.
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‎Referring to India's democratic history, he claimed that the country's democratic model had once been respected internationally and served as an example for other nations.
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‎"There was a time when Indian democracy was not only remembered but also followed across the world," he said.
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‎However, Karra accused the BJP of undermining that democratic legacy through what he described as its political agenda.
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‎He alleged that the democratic values associated with India's early leadership had been weakened under the present government.
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‎"The same Indian model of democracy, which became a basis for democracy in many countries, has been destroyed by the BJP through its designs," he claimed.
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‎Karra said the Congress, under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi, was seeking to revive the democratic values associated with the country's freedom struggle while preparing to address future political challenges.
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‎He said the party was drawing lessons from the sacrifices of its past leaders and attempting to strengthen democratic institutions.
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‎Responding to another question about remarks reportedly made against a woman Congress leader, Karra declined to give importance to the person who had made them, saying he did not take her seriously.
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‎He said such remarks reflected a lack of political maturity, culture and values among those making personal attacks.
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‎Karra maintained that criticism of this nature would neither diminish the stature of the Congress leader concerned nor affect her commitment to democratic principles.
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‎"Such things neither reduce her stature nor her respect or resolve to revive democracy in India," he said.
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‎He alleged that such statements instead reflected the political mindset of the BJP and exposed what he described as a decline in standards of political discourse. (KNS)