Jammu, Ladakh left way behind by previous Govts
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, July 29: Setting at rest the speculations triggered by revolt in the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) about formation of Government in Jammu and Kashmir after annual pilgrimage of Shri Amarnath Ji, BJP national president Amit Shah today declared that the party has no intentions to form Government in the State and reiterated that Jammu and Ladakh regions were left way behind due to faulty policies of the previous Governments and the BJP is trying to correct this.
In an interview to a national daily, Amit Shah described as “absolutely wrong” the reports that the BJP was trying to engineer defections in the People’s Democratic Party to form a Government in J&K with a breakaway group.
“We have no intentions of forming any such Government in Jammu and Kashmir,” he asserted.
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Shah’s categorical statement that the BJP has no intentions to form Government with the PDP defectors is being seen as very significant by the political observers as a message was doing the rounds in the political circles that the BJP could align with the PDP breakaway group to form next Government in Jammu and Kashmir after culmination of Shri Amarnath Ji pilgrimage on August 26.
Seven PDP legislators including five MLAs have already revolted against the leadership of PDP president and former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti charging her with promoting family culture. They had even abstained from party’s foundation day rally in Srinagar yesterday.
There had been reports that some BJP leaders were in touch with the PDP breakaway group, which prompted Mehbooba Mufti to warn that if any attempt was made to break the PDP, it will lead to 1987 like situation and create Salahudins and Maliks. Later, she had alleged that New Delhi was using the National Investigating Agency (NIA) and offering money and Ministerial berths to break her party.
Asserting that entering into an alliance with the PDP wasn’t a mistake, Amit Shah said their intentions were good and they wanted overall development of the region but admitted that it didn’t work.
“No it wasn’t a mistake. Our intentions were good. We wanted overall development of the region. But it didn’t work. We have already talked about the reasons why the alliance failed there,” the BJP national president, who had in a surprise decision on June 19 ordered withdrawal of support to the PDP Government led by Mehbooba Mufti, said. The withdrawal of support by the BJP led to imposition of Governor’s rule in Jammu and Kashmir on June 19 and left the Legislative Assembly under suspended animation.
Amit Shah said the BJP is trying to correct historical wrongs that have taken place in handling of Jammu and Kashmir right from Independence and that it was duty of the every good Government to do more for the regions that are underdeveloped.
“Every Government’s duty is to do more for the regions that are underdeveloped. If we were seen as doing more for Jammu, etc then it’s basically to compensate them for years of neglect. The BJP is trying to correct historical wrongs that have taken place in handling of Jammu and Kashmir right from Independence,” the BJP president said.
He admitted that Jammu and Ladakh regions have been left way behind due to faulty policies of the previous Governments.
“We are just correcting those (mistakes). If any party is to be accused of being partial, it should be the Congress, which is responsible for this skewed development of the region. It’s (Jawaharlal) Nehru’s legacy. We inherited those problems,” Shah said.
Denying that number of lynching or communal crimes have gone up, the BJP president said: “you have to understand that it’s not happening only now. You can’t single out only the BJP for it. It was more during the UPA regime. The number of lynching or communal crimes has not gone up, those are getting reported now”.
The BJP chief said his party-ruled States are seen taking actions quickly against all such elements.
“We don’t let them take law into their hands. There is not a single instance where those involved in such crimes have gone unpunished or not been booked. FIRs have been registered in every single case. We take these cases seriously and deal with them with equal seriousness. The problem is with the perception which is being created by the media,” Shah said.
The BJP president maintained that no one can control social media and that the BJP never backed or encouraged trolls.
“We are not doing it. No one can control social media. We don’t even intend to. We have never backed or encouraged trolls. Many a time we too are a victim on social media. But we won’t complain. Those who do, need to raise their level of tolerance,” he said.
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