Nishikant Khajuria
JAMMU, Apr 12: Admitting contradictory political ideologies of the two parties, Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley today said that the BJP entered into coalition with PDP to fight separatist forces and serve people of Jammu Kashmir.
“It is known to everybody and our friends in the PDP also know that our ideologies are totally different but arithmetic of electorate mandate dictated a political scenario, in which BJP got the opportunity to serve the country and the State”, he said while addressing party leaders and workers after inaugurating newly constructed State BJP headquarters, here today.
Terming the situation as peculiar following 2014 Assembly polls, in which BJP got mandate in Jammu and PDP in Kashmir Valley, Mr Jaitley said it was a hard situation, as how to move forward, and the political leadership in State and in Delhi had to accept the challenge. “Today it is a political reality that the mainstream political parties and the people of Kashmir region come together in our fight against separatism and we have to use this coalition in that direction,” he said and also urged all political forces in the State to come together and fight the forces of separatism.
Asking the partymen to take advantage of the present situation, in which mainstream party of Kashmir is sharing power with BJP in J&K and the party is also ruling in Centre, the Union Minister said that the State Government has five years to perform and address the issues of Jammu, which were not resolved so far.
“Let we start with outdoor and indoor stadiums in J&K, for which I had said in my first budget speech that the Government would give money for the same. Start this and complete them in a year or two and institutions like IITs, IIMS, AIIMS will become a living monument in Jammu region and we have all the resources to improve the infrastructure and we should use this opportunity towards this,” he said and added that Highways, Railways, Power, Education etc are getting maximum funding.
Maintaining that BJP has emotional and ideological relationship with Jammu Kashmir and would never compromise with any type of separatism, he recalled that when Jan Sangh was formed, the first issue it raised was about J&K and the leaders made sacrifices.
“The nationalistic path that we are following, its foundation was laid by Shyama Prasad Mookerjee and Pandit Prem Nath Dogra,” the Union Minister said and also lauded the BJP State unit leaders for their contribution in making the party strong. “There has been a lot of talent in the party in Jammu as well. I saw Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh for the first time on TV when he used to speak on Amarnath land agitation and we felt that he should be taken into the party fold. He became a Parliamentarian, got a good portfolio in PM’s Office and emerged as a successful Minister,” he said.
Jaitley also hoped that BJP will form Government for the first time in Assam.
While referring to the newly constructed party headquarters building in Jammu, Mr Jaitley recalled that 2008 Assembly elections in J&K when he was in-charge of BJP’s affairs in the State and a need was felt to have a bigger office. He hoped that the office in Jammu will become a nucleus of party activities.
In his speech, Mr Jaitley also informed that the BJP national president Amit Shah has decided to have party offices not only in all States but in every district. “Now it is the responsibility of State BJP chief Sat Sharma and other senior leaders to make sure to have an office in every district of the State,” he said and added that a good party office has its own benefits as people come with their suggestions, complaints and the workers share mood of the people with party leadership.
He also suggested converting the old office building in Jammu to a State-Centric research institution in the name of Pt Prem Nath Dogra after consultation with the family members of the late leader.
Union Minister of State in PMO, Dr Jitendra Singh, who was accompanying Mr Jaitley also spoke on the occasion, said that people of Jammu and Kashmir have great expectations from BJP Government in the State and the party must come upto their hopes.
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi has launched a number of schemes for social and economic upliftment of commoners and it is the responsibility of our Ministers in the State Government to ensure that J&K people may get benefit of the same,” he said.
Dr Jitendra Singh said that the BJP has a history of sacrifices for the last two generations and now when the party has come to power, no stone should be left unturned to serve the people and fulfill dream of the founding leaders.
BJP national general secretary Ram Lal, in his address, also suggested the party to strike a balance between responsibility and ideology.
He also wished that the party may expand its functioning and reach with an expended office. “Let it be a live office and not only a building. State president and his team have the responsibility,” he added.
Deputy Chief Minister, Dr Nirmal Singh and State BJP president, Sat Sharma also spoke on the occasion. They gave all credit to Arun Jaitley for the completion of new BJP headquarters building.
MLC Ashok Khajuria presented a vote of thanks while BJP State general secretary Pawan Khajuria conducted the stage proceedings.
MP Jugal Kishore Sharma and MP Shamsher Singh Manhas were also on dais while all the BJP Ministers, Legislators and senior leaders were present on the occasion.
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