*“Mayor and Deputy Mayor Must Resign”: Former Minister after Heavy Rains Cause Damage in Jammu

The Congress party on Friday held a press conference at the Congress Office at Shaheedi Chowk in Jammu to discuss the issue of immense damage and water logging caused in various parts of Jammu city and the total failure of the JMC and J&K Administration in handling the situation. Former Minister J&K Yogesh Sawhney General Secretary PCC In Charge District President Jammu (Urban) addressed the media and spoke on various issues. Starting the press conference, Sawhney conveyed his condolences to the bereaved families of the two pilots, one of whom belonged to RS Pura, who lost their lives in the IAF’s MiG Aircraft crash incident at Barmer district, calling it a ‘great loss and a most unfortunate incident’. He then went on to talk about the widespread damage caused across the Jammu city in the past few days as heavy rains hit the city this monsoon season. Sawhney accused the Jammu Municipal Corporation of totally failing during this time in handling the situation, stating that the JMC did not prepare in advance for something that happens every year and therefore let more damage happen that could have been prevented with preparation. ``This is a massive failure of Jammu Municipal Corporation, and the Congress party demands the resignation of the Mayor and the Deputy Mayor from their posts on account of this failure”, Sawhney said. Lt. Governor Should Sack JMC Mayor and Deputy Mayor, he said. During the press conference, the congress leader also briefly commented on the Smriti Irani row stating that the BJP Minister should look in the mirror before saying anything.

Along with Former Minister J&K Yogesh Sawhney, senior Congress leaders Sahil Sharma Spokesperson JKPCC, Dr. Ramakant Khajuria Vice President DCC, Sh. Uttam Singh Chib Ex Councillor JMC and Arif Malik participated in the Press Conference.

Addressing the media, Former Minister Yogesh Sawhney highlighted the poor condition of the Jammu city affected by the rains in the past few days. Holding up pictures of the damaged areas, Sawhney blamed the JMC for the immense damage caused. He said that due to heavy rains in the last few days, there was damage and waterlogging in the entire Jammu city. We witnessed a total breakdown of Jammu, and it is the complete failure of JMC and J&K’s administration. JMC failed to handle the situation and was not prepared at all. On behalf of the Congress party, Sawhney posed three questions to the JMC and UT administration on the issue. First, he asked why JMC was not prepared well in advance for a situation like this. “As we all know, rains hit every year and cause a lot of damage, these kinds of incidents occur repeatedly, then why did JMC not take any steps to prevent what could be prevented? Natural incidents cannot be controlled; however, preventive steps could have been taken to reduce their impact on the people, then why did JMC and UT Administration lack the foresight to do anything?”, questioned Sawhney. Next, he raised a question on the implementation of the Smart City Project in Jammu, asking what infrastructural projects and development work was undertaken in the city for the benefit of the people. Thirdly, Sawhney turned to the JMC and asked who will take responsibility for the damage caused and what is the JMC’s plan of action to compensate for the losses people have incurred and provide relief to affected areas and people.

He further said that houses of people have collapsed due to the rains. Water entered the shops, filled the streets, obstructed daily work, hampered businesses and yet JMC or any BJP leadership did not step out of the comfort of their offices to help. A house collapsed in Jhalakha Mohalla area near the Shiv Temple. Areas including Mubarak Mandi, Circular Road, Gandhi Nagar, Bahu Fort area, National Highway were totally waterlogged and blocked. Horrifying pictures circulated on social media as vehicles went underwater in many areas, he added. “Basically, we saw a complete breakdown of the infrastructural framework of the city.” He spoke. “After watching the complete failure of the Jammu Municipal Corporation in helping the people of Jammu. Congress party demands that the mayor and deputy mayor resign from their posts on account of this failure. And further we also demand that the administration must present their plan of action for compensation of the losses of the people.”, said Sawhney.

Moving forward in the press conference, Sawhney also spoke on the Smriti Irani incident stating that the Congress party condemns her behaviour in the Parliament. He said that her misbehavior and hypocrisy should not be tolerated. The bjp minister who is now being very vocal against Congress leader and party President Smt. Sonia Gandhi Ji has been silent on various important matters of the country. While Sonia Gandhi Ji is a respected leader and the wife of a Former Prime Minister, it is shameful that due to petty politics, the BJP leader forgets to give due respect. Ms. Smriti Irani should first look in the mirror before saying anything as she has been a silent spectator on many serious issues. The Congress party simply asks where Ms. Smriti Irani was during the Hathras incident. ‘Where was she when a BJP MLA was accused of raping a girl in Unnao? Why was she silent during the Lakhimpur Kheri incident?’, asked Sawhney.

Sawney lastly asked the UT administration and JMC to take responsibility for the havoc caused in Jammu city and take compensatory and rehabilitation actions in the aftermath of the monsoon caused damage. He also urged the BJP government at the center to stop their “jumlas and scams” like the Smart city scheme which he called were publicity stunts and not real developmental missions as can be seen with its implementation in Jammu city. Sawhney said that the failures of the BJP on all levels is very clear to the public eye and he further said that he demands that for the interest of the people of Jammu there are immediate steps taken to remedy the situation.