Jammu, October 31: The Jammu and Kashmir unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) organised ‘Loktantra Bachao, Arajakta Hatao’ (Save Democracy, Eliminate Anarchy) padyatras in Reasi and Kathua districts, accusing the Congress of questioning democratic institutions, spreading misinformation and creating controversies to divert attention from its political failures.
In Kathua, the padyatra was led by BJP MLA and J&K Seh-Prabhari Reena Kashyap and party general secretary Baldev Singh Billawaria, who was also the programme in-charge. District Prabhari and Vice-President Priya Sethi, district Seh-Prabhari Sanjay Baru, MLAs Rajiv Jasrotia, Vijay Sharma, Dr Bharat Bhushan, Satish Sharma and Darshan Kumar, along with district presidents Updesh Andotra and Gopal Krishan, also addressed the gathering.
In Reasi, J&K BJP president and Rajya Sabha MP Sat Sharma, accompanied by MP Jugal Kishore Sharma, MLAs Baldev Raj Sharma and Kuldeep Raj Dubey, district Prabhari Narain Singh, district president Rohit Dubey and other senior party leaders, led the march from Rishi Kumar Koushal Chowk to the Bus Stand in Reasi.
Addressing the gathering, Reena Kashyap criticised the Congress, accusing it of weakening democratic discourse by repeatedly questioning constitutional institutions and refusing to accept the people’s mandate.
She said the Congress could not claim to defend democracy while undermining public confidence in the institutions responsible for upholding it. Kashyap maintained that democratic governance was guided by the Constitution and the people’s mandate rather than the interests of any political party or family.
J&K BJP president Sat Sharma alleged that the Congress had turned its inability to accept electoral defeats into a sustained campaign against democratic institutions. He said the opposition party should play a responsible role instead of making allegations and creating controversies that could undermine public trust in the democratic system.
MP Jugal Kishore Sharma said the people of Jammu and Kashmir had witnessed the BJP’s commitment to development, transparency and public service. He added that the party would continue its public outreach to counter what it described as opportunistic politics.
Priya Sethi alleged that repeated accusations against democratic processes without credible grounds were damaging public confidence in the system. She said political parties should respect democratic institutions and the people’s mandate.
Baldev Singh Billawaria said the padyatra reflected the determination of BJP workers to counter what he termed misleading propaganda and defend democratic institutions.
Gopal Mahajan said the participation of party workers reflected their commitment and public support for the BJP. He added that the party would continue reaching out to people through public engagement, presenting facts and highlighting its record of service.
