Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 22: Bali Bhagat, senior BJP leader and former Minister, has sharply criticized Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s remarks about “healing the hearts of Kashmiris,” terming it as a mocking attempt to regain lost political ground in Jammu and Kashmir.
In a statement released today, the former minister recalled the tragic legacy of the Congress party in Jammu and Kashmir, accusing them of being responsible for over 42,000 deaths due to terrorism over the past thirty-five years. He condemned the Congress for their seventy-year tenure, which he claims not only facilitated the rise of terrorism in India but also led to the bloodshed of countless innocent civilians in the region.
Bali Bhagat particularly condemned the rigging of the 1987 Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly elections, which he believes ignited the insurgency. He noted that the election, overseen by a Congress-led Central Government, was marred by allegations of electoral fraud, leading to widespread unrest and the onset of insurgency.
The senior BJP leader questioned Rahul Gandhi’s apparent lack of awareness regarding Congress’s role in the 1987 election fraud and criticized the party for its silence during numerous massacres and the killing of innocents in Jammu and Kashmir. Bhagat also highlighted the Congress party’s support for anti-national elements, including the “Tukde Tukde Gang” in JNU and their anti-India slogans.
Bali Bhagat accused the Congress of consistently aligning with factions responsible for bloodshed and terrorism. He pointed to historical accords such as the Indira-Sheikh Accord of 1975 and the Rajiv Gandhi-Farooq Abdullah Accord of 1986, which he argued, fueled anti-national activities and perpetuated terrorism under Congress rule. He linked the loss of lives to separatist movements fueled by Article 370, which was supported by Congress and the National Conference. He also noted the growing number of graveyards in the Kashmir Valley during Congress rule.
The senior BJP leader urged the people of Jammu and Kashmir not to be swayed by Congress rhetoric and to support the BJP in the upcoming elections, asserting that only the BJP can deliver genuine progress and security for the region.
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