Nishikant Khajuria
JAMMU, Aug 6: Stung by recent controversies within party vis-à-vis prevailing situation in Kashmir Valley, the Core Group of ruling alliance partner Bhartiya Janta Party today took three significant decisions for avoiding further embarrassment to the party whereas several BJP legislators and office bearers, during another important meeting, registered their strong resentment against the `disappointing’ performance and style of functioning of the coalition Government.
According to the reliable sources, BJP Core Group, which met here today in the presence of national vice-president and incharge J&K affairs, Avinash Rai Khanna, decided to constitute a Group of BJP Ministers for the deliberations prior to decision making at Government level besides resolving that no Minister or legislator will make any statement on policy matters while there will be no compromise on the party ideology.
Taking cognizance of controversies surrounding some recent utterances in media over the killing of militant commander Burhan Wani, sources said that Avinash Rai Khanna made it clear that only the party spokesmen and authorized persons could make statements on policy decisions while Ministers and Legislators should limit themselves to their respective departments or constituencies.
Refering to some recent statements on killing of Burhan Wani and thereafter criticism of the same by own party leaders, Avinash Rai Khanna said that such controversies should be avoided.
After some members pointed out alleged lack of coordination and inadequate monitoring of situation, the Core Group decided to constitute a Group of BJP Ministers for prior deliberation on the issues concerning Government to avoid any confusion or error of judgement, sources informed and added that there was unanimity among all the members over the resolve that there should be no compromise on the party ideology at any cost.
The Core Group meeting, which was chaired by State BJP president Sat Sharma and attended by Deputy Chief Minister Dr Nirmal Singh, MP Jugal Kishore and Shamsher Singh Manhas, Minister for Health Bali Bhagat, MLC Ashok Khajuria, Ashok Koul S Narinder Singh Raina and Pawan Khajuria, was convened particularly to take stock of the situation in Kashmir Valley and its impact on the party image.
Ashok Koul and S Narinder Singh apprised the other Core Group members about their recent visit to Kashmir Valley for taking stock of the situation there and suggested that the State Government needs to take strict measure to control the subversive and anti-social elements, who were creating trouble for all.
The three-hour long Core Group meeting witnessed some instances of apparent attempts of the participating members to pull each other even as there was no major dissent over any issue.
However, in the other meeting of BJP Ministers, Legislators, MPs, Vice-Chairpersons of Advisory Boards, and senior leaders of the party, some members lashed out at the Government and more particularly the party Minister for playing with sentiments of the nationalist forces.
According to the sources, MLC Ramesh Arora rued that despite remaining stick to the party ideology throughout life, the die hard BJP loyalists were now being asked to maintain a silence over failures of the own Government. He warned that such a behaviour of the BJP leadership would be disastrous for the party.
The MLC alleged that the BJP minister have failed to take the common masses into confidence and thus allowing the situation in Kashmir Valley to deteriorate further after the killing of Burhan Wani. “Either you people (BJP ministers) assert the authority and take responsibility or quit from the Government,” the MLC said.
BJP Spokesman, Brig Anil Gupta expressed concern over soft statements emanating from Government quarters on the armed militants and said that such utterances lower the moral of security forces.
Senior BJP leader Chander Mohan Sharma endorsed the statement of Ashok Khajuria for Ashok Chakra to security personnel who killed Burhan Wani while former IGP, S S Bijral stressed that BJP leaders should avoid issuing controversial statements. “Killing of Burhan Wani was a routine operation by the security forces and our people should not enter into the game of allegations and counter-allegations over this,” he said.
MLC Vibodh Gupta and others from Rajouri drew attention towards the presence of some anti-national elements in the area and their alleged attempt to vitiate atmosphere in twin districts of Rajouri-Poonch.
Avinash Rai Khanna, after listening to the view points of all, asked the Party Ministers to hold open darbar to listen to the grievances of the people and establish a good rapport with them. He also asked the party workers to engage themselves in the social works for the upliftment of the poor, downtrodden and demanding people.
While dealing with the Kashmir problem, he asked the party workers and leaders to identify the nationalist elements in the Valley who are against the activities of terrorism and want to take out the Valley from the present turmoil, seek their cooperation in diffusing the prevailing situation. Khanna asked the ministers and the party workers to engage themselves in diffusing the situation. He asked for developing good relations with the people in the Valley and try to attend their problems.
As the meet also chalked out party programmes in the coming days to celebrate the 70th Independence day, Sat Sharma informed the participants about the programme ‘Yaad Karo Kurbani’ (commemorate the martyrdom of patriots). On this occasion from 9th to 23rd of August, different programmes would be organized
Dr Nirmal Singh threw light on the present situation and apprised the participants about the efforts being made by the ministers belonging to BJP to diffuse the present situation in coordination with the Chief Minister, other PDP ministers and the State functionaries.
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