Excelsior Correspondent
NEW DELHI, Nov 9: Ajatshatru Singh, son of senior Congress leader Karan Singh, today joined BJP and said that he will work for the party’s “mission” to achieve a majority in the upcoming Assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir.
Ajatshatru, grandson of the erstwhile ruler of JK, Hari Singh, joined BJP in the presence of party president Amit Shah, Union Ministers Dr Jitendra Singh, Dharmendra Pradhan and party general secretary Ram Madhav. BJP’s in-charge of JK affairs, Avinash Rai Khanna, was also present on the occasion.
“People of the State who want a corruption-free and dynasty-free Government and want the State to join the national mainstream, I want to appeal to all those to join BJP,” Shah said while welcoming Ajatshatru Singh.
“In the forthcoming J&K polls not only the party will be strengthened, but, in a way it is evidence of the trend as to which direction the people of the State are moving,” Shah said.
After Singh’s entry into the party, BJP’s prospects and its worker morale has got strength, Shah said.
Speaking on the occasion,Dr Jitendra Singh,Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) of Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, MoS PMO, Personnel & Training, Grievances, Atomic Energy and Space, said that Ajatshatru Singh’s entry into BJP also has a symbolic effect in the sense that it heralds the onset of a new era with the union of two “Parivars” (families), namely the first “Parivar” of Jammu & Kashmir and the Sangathan “Parivar” of the Bharatiya Janata Party.
Dr. Jitendra Singh recalled that Ajatshatru’s grandfather, Maharaja Hari Singh had played a historic role in bringing about the integration of the State of Jammu & Kashmir with the Union of India and, therefore, Ajatshatru Singh’s decision to embrace the nationalist ideology of Bharatiya Janata Party is a vindication of the nationalist stand for which his grandfather is remembered by the people of the State.
Referring to a recent conversation with Shah before joining BJP, Ajatshatru Singh said he had conveyed that his entire family which includes the entire State will work in letter and spirit to achieve Mission 44+.
“I want to assure that till our mission is complete, we will not sleep peacefully. In Jammu and Kashmir as well as Ladakh, our effort will be to bring a new Government. The way Prime Minister Narendra Modi wants new thinking to come, it should also come in J&K,” Ajatshatru said.
Asked which constituency will fight from, Ajatshatru said that it was upto the party to decide on that.
Asked whether Article 370 will be raised, he said that it will also depend on the party and one would get to know once the election manifesto comes.
“I have a personal view on Article 370. Its too premature to talk about it,” he said. Singh’s wife Ritu Singh and son Ranvijay Singh also became members of the party during the function.
Ajatshatru has been a MLC from Nagrota seat. Union Minister Jitendra Singh said Singh has given up the seat to join BJP.
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