Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, Dec 27: Maintaining that BJP has not diverted its stand on Article 370, the Party National spokesperson, Nirmala Sitaraman today said that BJP is committed to its abrogation if it comes to power at Centre.
Talking to reporters here this afternoon soon after her arrival from Union Capital, she said Article 370, Kishtwar communal violence and re-induction of Sajjad Ahmed Kitchloo into the Ministry and Kashmiri Hindu Shrines and Temples Bill will be among host of other issues during the Lok Sabha and State Assembly elections next year.
Flanked by BJP National Executive member and chief spokesperson of the Party for J&K, Dr Jitendra Singh, its general secretary, Bali Bhagat, senior leader, Mohan Singh Chouhan and Party press secretary Balbir Ram, she said that BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate, Narendra Modi has not diluted the Party stand on Article 370 and his position is not different than that of the Party on this Article which has been an impediment in the application of progressive laws into J&K passed by the Parliament from time to time.
She said by referring to Article 370 Mr Modi wanted to highlight that certain legislations made by Parliament of India have not reached J&K. He (Mr Modi) wanted an open debate to know what benefits the Article has given to the people of the State over the years, she added.
Sitaraman, said it is because of this Article that J&K has the six year term of Assembly while in rest of the country as well as Lok Sabha has only five years term. “One added year to the Assembly should give advantage to serve the people better” , she added and wanted to know what benefits this extra year has given to the people of the State.
The BJP National spokesperson said that many people in the country as well as State do not know about the benefits they have been deprived of by invoking Article 370 as many progressive legislations have not reached the State.
Expressing concern over re-induction of Mr Kitchloo into Ministry she said BJP is upset over the clean chit given to the Minister by the One Man Judicial Commission. “His induction was only on the basis of political reasons while the Commission did not see what happened in Kishtwar during the August 9 riots” she added.
She said the hearing was not completed by the Commission and the Government did not wait for the final report but re-inducted Kitchloo into Ministry on the basis of interim report despite the fact that it did not hear the victims of the violence.
Advocating for passage of Shrines and Temples Bill which is lying with the State Assembly, she said that the Government should enact the law for preservation of pilgrimage centers of Hindus in Valley which are the cultural monuments.
Assuring full support to the KPs in this regard she said Party fully endorses this demand and BJP has also given an assurance to APMCC delegation in this regard which took up the issue with the Party.
She regretted that despite the Passage of an Act by State legislature in 1997 the migrants’ immovable property is being encroached upon by some unscrupulous elements in Kashmir as the Act has not been implemented in letter and spirit.
Maintaining that these are the significant issues in the State for the Party she said that it will form the part of BJP’s poll plank in the State among various other issues.
The BJP leader said that unlike past her Party will emerge as Kingmaker in the State after the next Assembly elections and key to formation of Government will remain with it.
BJP National Executive Member and State chief spokesperson of the State, Dr Jitendra Singh said the Party will continue to act as a watch dog to safeguard the interests of the minorities in Kishtwar and elsewhere in the State. The demands of compensation to the victims of Kishtwar riots and punishment to the culprits will be continuously raised till these are not fulfilled, he added.
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