Jammu – Have faith in PM Modi

Rajan Gandhi
Duo of PM Modi and BJP President Amit Shah have taken BJP to pinnacle of politics with more than 19 states straight way ruling, BJP was ruling only 7 states when Modi took over as PM, practically speaking they have turned the party into election machine, ready to take on opposition on any turf. Decimation of Congress in NE states, inroads in West Bengal, Odissa and emergence of BJP as single largest party in the Assembly elections of Karnataka are a testimony of their dedication towards the party. But it’s not an easy task by any standards to win so many states pan India as it requires round the clock mobilization of resources, motivating party workers and most importantly strategy. Party manifesto and state vision documents are of utmost importance as these reflect party’s future vision for the said state. As of now through manifesto each party is trying to outsmart each other with freebies so much so that even voters know these promises are never meant to be kept. Interestingly BJP’s manifesto in parliamentary elections and vision document during State Assembly elections were miles apart. On national front, party has a clear stand on scrapping of Article 370 and Article 35A but on the other hand both these things were missing from vision document during Assembly elections. It seems sensing the sensitivity of these two articles among Kashmiri voters BJP as a part of strategy kept the lid on controversial articles and the subsequent alliance with PDP compelled BJP to drop these two issues as mentioned in AoA. Removal of army bunker from main bazaar Handwara, registration of FIRs against army men, ceasefire during Ramzan were few other initiatives to which BJP became part despite the fact all these things were detrimental to BJP. BJP as promised to PDP never raised these issues during their coalition with PDP and in the process faced considerable resentment from its vote bank of Jammu Division.
PM Modi had clear vision of development for our state right from the beginning, be it decision to celebrate his first Diwali as PM in Kashmir after ravaging floods of 2014 or eighty thousand crore package announced which further elaborated his intentions for our State. Galaxy of projects approved are itself a proof of seriousness of his approach and commitment for J&K. IIT,IIM,AIIMS, Metro, Ring Road, Four lane Jammu Akhnoor and Jammu Srinagar highways, Tawi river front, Devika river project, Bio Technology Park, Jammu Zoo, Shahpur Kandi agreement, Ujh multipurpose project, National Institute of High Altitude Medicinal Plants at Bhaderwah, Horticulture University at Kashmir, Zojilla tunnel, Baramulla – Kupwara railway link, Manali-Bilaspur- Leh rail link, you think of a project anywhere in India and its approved for Jammu and Kashmir. With the states like Kerala, Tamil Nadu still struggling to get AIIMS, Jammu and Kashmir got two approved, keeping in view population and size of our state no other state can get it. He is a man of vision without any doubt and expected his alliance partner to be in sync with his intentions to get our troubled state out of the quagmire of disturbances. But as they say some never learn lessons from history and truth is history also never spare such leaders. Instead of spending eighty thousand crores for transforming the infrastructure of the state, PDP had its own agenda of obstruction. Each and every project could not come out of the incubation period itself as road blocks in the shape of land allocation were hurdled. Each and every selection list was Kashmir centric and even posts of ADCs were manipulated to ferment trouble in BJPs vote bank area. Mishandling of Rasana rape episode by PDP, as Home Ministry was with CM herself, further dented BJP’s image in Jammu with 25 MLAs were just mute spectators only as any feeble protest resulted in threat of resignation by CM. After many deliberations BJP ultimately decided to call it a day finally in June this year. With this ended the turmoil of alliance and Central Government was in a position to implement its own vision for Jammu and Kashmir especially for Jammu and Ladakh.
It’s not that Modi- Shah duo was not apprehending trouble from Mehbooba Mufti and as such Sajjad Lone of People’s Conference has been groomed and smartly kept on board by BJP right from Vajpayee’s era when Sajjad was provided security cover after denial of same by local state administration. His meeting with PM Modi was game changer as after the meeting he termed Modi as his ‘Bada Bhai’. He was rewarded when on PM Modi’s intervention he was inducted into cabinet from BJP’s quota. Most important is Sajjad Lone’s statement in Assembly where he accused UPA Government of denying him passport for ten years along with denial of visas to his children and more remarkable is his statement, “May Allah blesses Modi”. After the collapse of BJP- PDP alliance, Sajjad has become the central political figure of Kashmir. With the announcement of panchayat and ULB elections and subsequent boycott call by both NC and PDP, Sajjad Lone got the requisite opportunity to make his moves. BJP also made its move and got several migrants as its winning candidates. Rebel NC spokesperson Junaid Azim Mattu became the Mayor of Srinagar with the help of PC and BJP. Cornered from all sides NC, PDP, Congress came together to recover their lost ground but it was too late as Governor immediately dissolved the assembly and rumbles in PDP became more visible as after dissolution of assembly Imran Raza Ansari joined third front of Sajjad Lone, former FM Haseeb Drabu resigned from PDP and at one point even Muzaffar Hussain Beigh of PDP showed inclination in joining third front of Lone. Former FM Haseeb Drabu’s statement that party has changed after the demise of Mufti sahib is quite significant. At present it seems as if by promoting Sajjad Lone BJP has let cat among pigeons and recent tweet bonhomie between Mehbooba and Omar is a testimony how uneasy these two parties are right now. As per media reports and recent moves by senior Jammu based Congress leaders also make things more interesting with the rumors they are ready to jump the line at the first suitable opportunity.
After the imposition of Governor’s rule, BJP made a decisive move by replacing SP Malik, first political Governor of J & K in place of N.N.Vohra. Ever since his oath ceremony SP Malik seems to be a tiger on prowl. His interaction with media persons at regular intervals, cancellation of Reliance Insurance contract, establishing SAB ( State Anticorruption Bureau), bringing J & K bank under RTI despite quite visible opposition from Kashmir centric parties, his intent to simplify procedure in getting PRCs, increasing honorarium of thirty thousand SPOs , handing over of land for AIIMS, whole land of IIT-IIM handed over, start of Ring Road project, start of work on Jammu Akhnoor road project, work allotment of 317 out of 348 projects for power infrastructure up gradation, clearance for Rattle hydro electric project, first ever gas pipeline, Jalandhar- Samba- Amargarh 400 KV transmission line, rail link between Baramulla to Kupwara, 175 pending declarations issued for roads, bridges, declarations for Baramulla-Srinagar- Udha-mpur railway line land acquisition, proposed shifting of oil depots from Narwal to Bajalta, creation of 20,000 teachers posts to overcome SSA crisis are few initiatives which clearly indicate Central Government’s sincere efforts to compensate for the time loss to PDP-BJP alliance, taking the remedial course through Governor’s rule. If media reports are to be believed separate division for Ladakh is on cards thereby ending 71 years of discrimination with Ladakh. How can one justify 59,000 sq km area of Ladakh being governed by 16,000 sq.km Kashmir and in peak winters how many days Divisional Commissioner of Kashmir can spend in Leh, Kargil or for that matter visit far flung areas of Nubra, Sankhoo, Batalik or Zanskar. With separate division, always neglected Ladakh will get its due recognition and its development will be on track.
Mayor of Srinagar, Junaid Azim Mattu has already shown his intent with whole time focus on public issues as such Mayor of Jammu should follow the same. Mistakes committed by BJP ministers and MLAs are not to be repeated. Selection of suitable candidates for upcoming elections is most important for BJP as MLAs from RS Pura and Chenani have created problems for party time and again on one or another pretext. BJP will be contemplating giving tickets to some of their corporators based on their performance. Modi – Shah duo it seems have done their homework well in advance. No stone pelting, no protests in Kashmir, army doing its job, successful completion of elections are all positive signs. With the elections over in five states one can expect another visit of PM for stone laying of important development projects and announcement for some more projects. There is still time left for schedule of elections for J and K to be announced and one hopes for many more corrective measures from Governor to give patriotic people of Jammu and Ladakh their due share. After these entire initiatives one can have faith in PM Modi as for Jammu and Ladakh ‘Achae din aanae walae haen.’
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