Santosh, Madhav discuss poll strategy with BJP leaders
Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, Aug 22: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) today asked Congress to clear its stand on Article 370 and reservations given to Paharis, Gujjars and other communities in J&K UT.
The Congress which forged its pre-poll alliance with National Conference (NC) at Srinagar today should clear its stand on Article 370 and reservations granted to various communities in the UT of J&K by Modi Government after abrogation of controversial Article 370 and 35 A, Union Minister of Coal & Mines and Election in charge of the party for J&K UT, G Kishan Reddy told reporters on the sidelines of party meetings here today.
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He said in view of NC’s manifesto stating to pass resolution in Assembly on the restoration of Article 370 and reconsidering the decision on reservations, the Congress should consider its stand on these vital issues and nation must know the same.
“Congress should clear the stand on NC manifesto and Sonia Gandhi should tell the country whether her party wants to snatch the rights given to the people by Modi Government after implementing the Constitution of Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar in J&K,” Reddy said.
He said that Leader of Opposition, Rahul Gandhi who took dinner at a Hotel in Lal Chowk, Srinagar yesterday should realise that the normalcy has returned to Kashmir during the last 10 years of Modi rule due to which it was possible for him to have dinner at a restaurant in Lal Chowk Srinagar yesterday.
BJP national general secretary and in charge J&K, Tarun Chugh said that credit goes to Narendra Modi who made Srinagar a smart and a peaceful city. “It is now tourist destination and not the city of stone pelters,” he added.
Chugh said he saw that Rahul Gandhi was relishing ice cream at Srinagar yesterday and he should be thankful to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for bringing a complete transformation in Kashmir. On the alliance between NC and Congress, he said it is an `expired alliance’ which will have no impact on Assembly poll in the UT and the party must clear stand on controversies created by NC.
Party sources said the duo attended the various meetings of the party at BJP headquarters and at RSS headquarters here. They held a meeting with party’s national general secretary (Org) B L Santosh and newly appointed election in charge J&K Ram Madhav.
Madhav, who had visited Srinagar yesterday soon after his appointment as party’s election incharge for J&K, reached here this afternoon to participate in special close door meeting with Santosh, Reddy, Chugh and RSS Prant Pracharak, Rupesh Kumar which were held at RSS headquarters to devise the poll strategy, review the names of probable candidates and also deliberated on party’s election manifesto, sources added.
They said Santosh will also hold meetings with BJP senior leaders from J&K UT as well as Reddy and Chugh tomorrow.
Meanwhile, both Reddy and Chugh during the meeting with members of Election Manifesto Committee at BJP Headquarters, the party gave final shape to the poll manifesto which was later submitted to party High Command for approval, sources said, adding after approval the poll manifesto will be released within two days.
Sources said this time party’s poll manifesto will be comprehensive from all angles including politically and socially.
The party has taken inputs from cross section of people in entire UT and the suggestions from representatives of trade, industry, employees’ organisations, disabled people, PoJK refugees, West Pak refugees, Kashmir Pandits etc were taken and incorporated in the manifesto, they added.
Sources said that people are demonstrating faith in BJP and even today some people approached the party with their suggestions and views.
The meeting was attended by chairman of the Manifesto Committee Dr Nirmal Singh, chief spokesperson BJP Sunil Sethi and spokespersons R S Pathania, GL Raina etc.
Sources said in party’s Election Management Committee meeting which too was held at BJP headquarters both Reddy and Chugh sought feedback from its members on poll preparedness, booth management and also assigned different assignments to the representatives of the Committee. The detailed discussions were held on poll campaigning and members were asked to devote more time to party during the election days.
Sources said the final shape was also given about the arrangements for the leaders coming from different parts of the country for campaigning their boarding and lodging, transportation, holding of rallies etc.
Sources said Ram Madhav during his two days visit to Srinagar yesterday also met various prominent people including political activists of various parties besides some Independent candidates there. He also held discussions with BJP leaders of Kashmir on the party’s poll prospectus.
Madhav also met BJP senior leader and Ex MLC, Surinder Ambardar in Srinagar and both discussed party’s poll prospectus in the Valley in ensuing Assembly elections.
Sources said the two leaders discussed the party’s strategy to rope in some smaller parties for alliance including Independent candidates in different parts of the Valley. The party may also try to revive the old groups and parties which fought the Assembly elections in 2014 in Kashmir Valley.
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