![Senior BJP leader Devender Singh Rana flanked by his party colleagues, Priya Sethi and Balbir Ram Rattan addressing a press conference at Jammu on Saturday. -Excelsior/ Rakesh Senior BJP leader Devender Singh Rana flanked by his party colleagues, Priya Sethi and Balbir Ram Rattan addressing a press conference at Jammu on Saturday. -Excelsior/ Rakesh](https://cdndailyexcelsior.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/page3-3-16-696x392.jpg)
‘Changing ancient names of hill-locks is assault on our faith’
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU Aug 24:- Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) today lambasted the Congress for joining hands with the National Conference (NC) to scrap the reservation for SCs, STs, Gujjar Bakerwals, Paharis and OBCs in Jammu and Kashmir to disempower these marginalized communities.
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“The Congress has joined hands with the NC to further its agenda, which is reflected in the NC’s pro-Pakistan, pro-separatist, anti-J&K people and anti national manifesto, to repeal the reservation guaranteed to the SC, ST, Gujjars, Paharis and OBCs in Jammu and Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370 as per Babasaheb Dr Ambedkar’s Constitution”, Senior BJP leader Devender Singh Rana said while addressing a press conference at the party Headquarters here this morning.
He said the BJP will not allow to succeed this dubious design of the NC and its ally the Congress to disempower these segments in employment, education and space in politics.
Rana took the Congress head on for aligning with the NC in the anti reservation plank, so much so that its national president Malikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi specially flew from New Delhi to Srinagar to ink alliance with the forces inimical to the Constitution.
“Soon after unveiling of the divisive and anti people manifesto of the NC, the Congress leadership led by Gandhi scion took a sense of pride in endorsing the anti-reservation document by forging alliance with the party that has all along discriminated against the marginalized segments of society”, Rana said while assailing the NC for attempting to trample the time tested mechanism provided in the Babasaheb’s Constitution, guaranteeing equitable and fair share to the marginalized communities in jobs, education and political spectrum.
He reiterated that the BJP will foil all the machinations of the Congress and the NC to play with the rights of the reserved categories and will not hesitate in offering any sacrifice in upholding the Constitutional guarantees to the members of SC, ST and OBC sections of the society.
Rana said that achieving of “Ek Nishan, Ek Vidhan, Ek Pradhan”, as per the true spirit of Babasaheb’s Constitution has remained an eyesore for the NC and the Congress so they are targeting the marginalized communities.
Rana also referred to change in the nomenclature of the world-famous Shankaracharya Hills in Srinagar as Takht-e-Suleman and Hari Parbhat as Kohe-Maran in the NC manifesto, and described this as direct assault on the faith and identity of a community.
“NC is playing with our identity, as Shankaracharya and HariParbhat are matters of faith for Sanatanis”, Devender Rana said, questioning whether this move was to placate radicalized elements. The Congress should clear its stand on renaming of the most revered religious landmarks as Takht-e-Suleman and Koh-e- Maran, he added.
BJP National Executive Member and former Minister, Priya Sethi and party’s co in charge party’s media Relations Department were also present in the press conference.