Jammu: Former Union Minister and All India Congress Committee (AICC) Incharge J&K, Bharatsinh Solanki, declared that the Congress-National Conference (NC) alliance is on track to secure a landslide victory in the upcoming Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections.

Addressing a press conference at the Congress party office today, Solanki attributed the BJP’s desperation to its dwindling popularity in the region.
“The BJP has deployed its top leaders, including the Prime Minister, Home Minister, Defence Minister, and UP Chief Minister, to desperately cling to power by any means necessary,” Solanki said, highlighting the party’s anxiety about their future in J&K.

Solanki also unveiled BJP’s hidden agenda, accusing the party of exploiting J&K’s natural resources and allowing big corporations to loot the State.
“This startling revelation has raised concerns among J&K’s citizens, who will not tolerate any compromise on their State’s sovereignty and economic well-being,” Solanki emphasized, accusing the BJP of undermining the region’s interests.

Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi to Address Rallies in J&K
Solanki also announced that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will address two rallies on September 27 in Chhamb and Ramgarh, while Priyanka Gandhi will hold rallies in Billawar and Bishnah on September 28.
“The people of J&K will decide their own future and they will reject BJP and its deceitful tactics,” he asserted, expressing confidence in the Congress-NC alliance’s ability to resonate with voters.

BJP’s Broken Promises
Criticizing the BJP for its failure to deliver on its 2014 promises, Solanki questioned how the party could seek votes from the people of J&K again.
“The people of J&K will reject BJP’s tactics. Congress and NC are united in our determination to serve J&K’s interests,” Solanki said, reiterating that the BJP has lost the trust of the public due to its broken promises.

Solanki further attacked BJP over its handling of agricultural policies, specifically condemning BJP Lok Sabha member Kangana Ranaut’s statement supporting the three farm laws that were previously repealed by the government.
“This statement exposes BJP’s anti-farmer mindset and their disregard for the welfare of J&K’s agricultural sector,” he remarked.

A Chargesheet Against BJP
The AICC leader reminded reporters that the Congress has already presented a chargesheet detailing BJP’s failures, and BJP leaders have failed to respond.
“Their silence acknowledges the truth of our allegations,” he said.

As the State prepares for a new government, Solanki remained confident that the people of J&K will not be swayed by BJP’s tactics and will reject their policies.
“Congress and NC remain united in their determination to prioritize J&K’s sovereignty, economic well-being, and emotional integration,” Solanki concluded.

Accompanying Solanki at the press conference were JKPCC chief spokesperson Ravinder Sharma, Media Coordinator Dolly Sharma, and other prominent Congress leaders.

Irked by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s election campaign in Sopore, National Conference (NC) leader Omar Abdullah today called for Gandhi to shift his attention to the Jammu region, where the Congress holds the majority of seats in the seat-sharing agreement with NC.

Speaking to reporters, Omar expressed his disappointment over the Congress’s campaign strategy. He pointed out that despite the seat-sharing alliance between NC and Congress, the latter had yet to make a significant impact in Jammu. Commenting on Gandhi’s rally in Sopore in support of Congress candidates Abdul Rashid Dar, Nizamudin Bhat, and Irfan Lone, Omar said that Congress’s efforts in the Kashmir Valley were less crucial compared to the importance of its role in Jammu.

“I hope after Rahul wraps up campaigning in one or two seats in Kashmir, he turns his attention to Jammu. Ultimately, Congress’s actions in Kashmir aren’t what matter most; it’s what happens in Jammu that counts,” Omar said. He added that while Congress had been granted a substantial number of seats in the Jammu plains, its campaign presence there had been minimal.

Congress Campaign Lacking in Jammu
Omar Abdullah highlighted the fact that Congress was given the lion’s share of seats in Jammu as part of the alliance with NC but had yet to begin its full campaign in the region. “The lion’s share of the seats that the alliance gave in Jammu was to the Congress party, and yet the Congress campaign in Jammu is yet to begin,” Omar said, expressing concern with only five days left before the conclusion of campaigning.

“With only five days left in the campaign, it’s worrying that Congress has yet to make its presence felt in Jammu. I hope once Rahul finishes in the Valley, the party will focus its efforts on Jammu,” he added.

Optimism Amid Voter Enthusiasm
Reflecting on the ongoing elections, Omar Abdullah expressed optimism about the strong voter turnout so far. “We’ve been waiting for ten years. The first phase went well, and I anticipate a strong turnout in the second phase. The enthusiasm from voters has been encouraging, and I hope it translates into substantial voter participation,” he said.

Omar Questions Foreign Diplomat Involvement in Elections
The NC leader criticized the Central Government for inviting foreign diplomats to observe the elections in Jammu and Kashmir. “I don’t see why outsiders need to check on our elections. When they comment on various issues, the Government labels it an internal matter. These elections should be viewed the same way,” Omar said.

He also questioned the decision to bring diplomats to Srinagar while leaving out Jammu, Rajouri, and Poonch, implying that the government was attempting to misrepresent the situation in Kashmir to the international community. “The purpose of bringing them to Srinagar was to spread a wrong opinion about you to the world. We must remain vigilant and alert to this,” he warned.

Voting Despite Challenges
Omar Abdullah underscored that the people of Jammu and Kashmir are voting despite difficulties posed by the Central Government. “The people are voting, not because of the Government, but in spite of its efforts to trouble and harass them,” he remarked, highlighting the resilience of voters across the region.

Omar Responds to Allegations of Bogus Voting
Omar also responded to allegations from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) regarding bogus voting in Ganderbal. “If their candidates aren’t making an impact, that’s not my fault. People are supporting me based on their own choices,” he said.

Warning Against BJP’s Plans for Article 370 and 35A
The NC leader warned voters against allowing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to gain control of the Assembly, arguing that the BJP’s ultimate goal is to pass a resolution accepting the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A. He accused the BJP of fielding proxy candidates to split the vote in Kashmir and form a government that would legitimize the removal of these constitutional provisions.

Omar urged voters to remain vigilant and to vote against any attempt by the BJP to dilute Jammu and Kashmir’s rights and identity. “If the BJP forms a government, it could pass a resolution in the Assembly claiming that J&K has accepted the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A,” he warned.

The second phase of polling in the Jammu division concluded today across 11 Assembly constituencies in the districts of Rajouri, Poonch, and Reasi, with voter turnout ranging from 68 to 80 percent. Although the overall turnout was relatively high, it marked a decline in comparison to the 2014 Assembly elections.

The three districts, considered militancy-infested due to the presence of foreign terrorists, saw a peaceful polling process despite security concerns. Security forces, including the Army, paramilitary, and local police, made extensive arrangements to ensure a smooth voting day, with no reports of terror incidents disrupting the process.

79 Candidates’ Fate Sealed in EVMs
The fate of 79 candidates, including several political heavyweights, was locked in Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) today. Notable candidates include BJP’s UT chief Ravinder Raina, former ministers Jugal Kishore Sharma, Aijaz Khan, Zulfkar Choudhary, Shabir Khan, and Syed Mushtaq Bukhari, among others. Their future will be decided when the EVMs are opened on October 8, the scheduled counting date for all 90 seats in the Union Territory.

In total, 34 candidates are contesting in the five constituencies of Rajouri district, 25 in three segments in Poonch, and 20 in the three seats of Reasi district.

Polling Numbers Show Significant Decline
Despite peaceful voting, the overall voter turnout dropped in comparison to the 2014 elections. The turnout across the three districts was as follows:

Reasi: 71.81%
Poonch: 71.59%
Rajouri: 71.31%
A notable drop was observed in several key constituencies. The Darhal constituency in Rajouri district, renamed Budhal, saw a sharp 12% decline, recording a 70.14% turnout compared to 82.45% in 2014.

Reasi District: The Shri Mata Vaishno Devi seat, a newly formed constituency, recorded a 79.95% turnout, slightly lower than the 80.32% recorded when the area was under the former Reasi seat. Meanwhile, the Reasi segment saw a turnout of 71%, a steep drop from the 82.68% registered in 2014 when it was known as Gool-Arnas. Similarly, Gulabgarh recorded 73.49%, down from 82.09% in the last elections.

Rajouri District: Nowshera, where BJP’s Ravinder Raina faces NC’s Surinder Choudhary, saw a drop from 79.68% to 72%. The Sunderbani-Kalakote segment also witnessed a decline, with turnout falling from 76.66% in 2014 to 68.71% today. In Rajouri, voter turnout fell from 76.09% to 70.64%, while the newly created Thannamandi constituency saw 69.66% voting.

Poonch District: The border district saw similar drops. Mendhar recorded a turnout of 71.08%, down from 80.09% in 2014. Surankote and Poonch-Haveli constituencies saw slightly lesser declines, recording 75.11% and 74.93% voter turnouts, compared to 76.49% and 76.25% in the previous election.

Voting Process Peaceful Amid Heavy Security Presence
Despite the tense environment, the elections were carried out without any major incidents. Only minor scuffles and heated exchanges between rival supporters were reported in the Nowshera, Poonch, and Reasi constituencies, all of which were resolved swiftly. Importantly, no polling station in the three districts required a re-poll.

Elaborate security measures were in place due to the history of militant activity in these regions. The Army conducted intensified anti-terror operations in the surrounding mountains, while paramilitary forces and police provided security at polling stations and other vulnerable areas. No terror incidents were reported during the voting period.

With polling now concluded in these key regions, all eyes will be on October 8, when the results will be declared for these constituencies and the rest of the Union Territory.

Sunil Sethi, the chief spokesperson of the Jammu and Kashmir BJP, today criticized both the National Conference (NC) and Congress for distorting history and diminishing the contributions of Maharaja Hari Singh. During a press conference, Sethi alleged that these parties portrayed the Maharaja in a negative light to glorify Sheikh Abdullah and undermine the Maharaja’s role in the state’s history.

Sethi, alongside BJP spokespersons Abhijeet Jasrotia, Lt Gen (retd) Rakesh Sharma, Dr. Tahir Chowdhary, and YV Sharma, emphasized that it was due to Maharaja Hari Singh’s leadership that Jammu and Kashmir became an integral part of India. However, he claimed that NC and Congress repeatedly belittled the Maharaja’s contribution, particularly his work on social reforms, while promoting Sheikh Abdullah as a “hero.”

Maharaja’s Exile and NC-Congress Policies
Sethi highlighted that NC and Congress were responsible for exiling Maharaja Hari Singh and never allowing him to return to Jammu and Kashmir until his death. He pointed out that while these parties celebrated the birthdays of Sheikh Abdullah and observed Martyr’s Day, they ignored the Maharaja’s contributions, leading to public agitation in Jammu demanding a holiday on his birthday.

The BJP, according to Sethi, corrected this historical wrong by declaring a holiday on September 23, Maharaja Hari Singh’s birthday. He challenged Rahul Gandhi and the NC to explain why the Maharaja was “insulted,” sent into exile, and barred from returning to his homeland.

Contradictions in Congress’ Relationship with Sheikh Abdullah
Sethi also accused the Congress of hypocrisy in its dealings with Sheikh Abdullah, first imprisoning him on charges of being anti-national, and later appointing him as Chief Minister. He further questioned why a holiday was declared in Sheikh’s honor, while Maharaja Hari Singh’s legacy was ignored.

BJP’s Role in Honoring the Maharaja
Sethi underscored that the BJP has given Maharaja Hari Singh the rightful place in history, unlike NC and Congress. He argued that it is only the BJP that has consistently celebrated the Maharaja’s birthday and upheld his contributions to Jammu and Kashmir.

Abhijeet Jasrotia’s Remarks on Jammu Discrimination
Abhijeet Jasrotia, speaking at the same event, reiterated that both NC and Congress have historically discriminated against Jammu and its people. He criticized the allocation of more Lok Sabha and Assembly seats to Kashmir, despite Jammu having a larger area and population. Jasrotia further condemned these parties for removing the Dogra certificate, which is a significant identity marker for the people of Jammu.

He concluded by stating that only the BJP is committed to safeguarding the future and identity of Jammu and its Dogra community, while Congress has consistently let down the region.

Director General of Police (DGP) of Jammu & Kashmir, RR Swain, has sanctioned Rs 2.04 crore as special welfare relief for the next of kin (NoK) of deceased police personnel and Special Police Officers (SPOs) who passed away while in service.

The relief includes Rs 22 lakh each for the legal heirs or dependents of nine police personnel who succumbed to illness during their service. Additionally, the families of the deceased had already been granted Rs 1 lakh for performing the last rites. The relief is drawn from the Contributory Police Welfare Fund, established to support families of police personnel.

In another case, Rs 6 lakh has been sanctioned for the family of SPO Deepak Sharma, who passed away while actively serving in the department. His family had earlier received an immediate relief of Rs 50,000 for last rites.

Marriage Assistance for Martyr’s Daughter
In a separate announcement, Rs 1 lakh has been sanctioned for the marriage of a martyr’s daughter, demonstrating the police department’s ongoing commitment to supporting the families of fallen personnel.

This welfare initiative underscores the department’s dedication to the well-being of the families of its officers and personnel, ensuring that those who serve the community are remembered and their families cared for.