Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of betraying the youth of Jammu and Kashmir with empty promises and alleged that the region is suffering from rampant unemployment, corruption, and stalled development projects. He predicted that in the upcoming elections, the youth would reject Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his party.
Taking to social media platform X, Kharge highlighted that the unemployment rate in Jammu and Kashmir stood at a staggering 28.2% as of March, according to the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS). “Deception is the only policy of the BJP for the youth of Jammu and Kashmir!” he posted.
Kharge criticized the BJP for its handling of the employment situation in the region, citing multiple exam paper leaks, bribery scandals, and widespread corruption that have delayed hiring processes across various government departments for four years. He claimed that an astounding 65% of government department positions in Jammu and Kashmir have remained vacant since 2019.
He further noted that over 60,000 government daily wagers in Jammu and Kashmir have been working for more than 15 years, earning a meager Rs 300 per day. “Despite their long-standing service, they remain on a contract basis, even in essential departments such as Power, Public Health, and Engineering, highlighting the precarious nature of the job crisis,” Kharge said.
The Congress president also criticized the BJP for failing to deliver on its promises of industrial development in Jammu and Kashmir. He claimed that the union territory has no major manufacturing units and that the private sector is largely limited to providing services in farming, hospitality, and health.
Kharge highlighted that despite the introduction of the New Industrial Policy in 2021, only 3% of the promised investments have materialized on the ground. He also pointed out that 40% of the projects under the Prime Minister’s Development Package, 2015, remain incomplete.
Expressing confidence in the upcoming elections, Kharge declared, “On October 1, the youth of J&K will show the exit door to Modi & Company!”
The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections, featuring 90 seats, will be conducted in three phases on September 18, September 25, and October 1. The results will be announced on October 8.