‘It’s an election for stability of J&K’
Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, Sept 22: Castigating Congress and National Conference (NC) and labelling them as “non-nationalist forces”, BJP national president and Union Health Minister J P Nadda today said Pakistan’s Defence Minister himself “certified” that the two parties are carrying out that country’s (Pakistan’s) agenda in Jammu and Kashmir.
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Addressing an election rally at Kangra Fort Barnai in support of party candidate, Sham Lal Sharma from Jammu North Assembly segment, prominent citizens meet at Greater Kailash in support of party candidates, Dr Narinder Singh and Vikram Randhawa and an impressive road show in support of party candidate from Jammu East, Yudhvir Sethi in Jammu city, he said that there is a “wave of change” in Jammu and Kashmir under Prime Minister, Narendra Modi’s leadership and underscored BJP’s “deep connection” with the Union Territory.
Nadda claimed terror attacks have significantly reduced and said the lifespan of terrorists under Prime Minister Modi’s leadership is “only one week”, but these parties are trying to negotiate with terrorists and ‘anti-nationalists.’ He repeatedly asked people at all the three functions that do they want that jailed terrorists and separatists should be released and Article 370 be restored?
“They (NC, Congress and those who strike pact with them) are non-nationalist forces. Those who talk of releasing terrorists and starting cross LoC trade and those who strike pact with them are not nationalist forces. No other than the Pakistan Defence Minister has given them a certificate. What he has said is known to everyone,” Nadda said during his public rallies and road show.
Nadda said, “The Defence Minister of Pakistan has stated that NC and the Congress in India are promoting their agenda, wanting to bring Jammu and Kashmir back to the status quo and restore Article 370. Will you support those certified by Pakistan? Remember, they are not nationalists.”
Accusing the Congress, NC, and PDP of “corruption” and “ruining” Jammu and Kashmir, Nadda said, “These three political dynasties – the Abdullah family, Mufti family, and Nehru-Gandhi family – have harmed Kashmir. They brought rampant corruption and destroyed this beautiful State.”
They want Jammu and Kashmir to return to the condition prevalent in 1990s, Nadda alleged.
He asked people that the leaders of NC and Congress will try to trap you with the jugglery of their words which they have been doing for last seven decades for their vested political interests.
While seeking vote for his party candidates in the UT, Nadda said the Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir are pivotal not just for the security and stability of the region, but for the stability of India as a whole.
The BJP president also emphasized that Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Government has transformed India’s political landscape by rooting out corruption and delivering pro-people governance.
“This is not just an election for the BJP or any other party. It is an election for the stability of Jammu and Kashmir and to make India strong. It is not the election to make an MLA. It is to bring Jammu and Kashmir to mainstream of development. It will give Jammu and Kashmir stability,” Nadda said.
Nadda, said “it is an election between the nationalist forces and disruptive forces”.
“I am confident that nationalist forces will win and disruptive and divisive forces will face a crushing defeat. This election will ensure stability of not only Jammu and Kashmir but of the entire country,” he added.
Nadda said it is also an election to end decade-long injustice with Jammu and Kashmir and bring it into the national mainstream of development.
The BJP president, praised the enthusiasm of the people in democracy as a large number voted in the first phase of the elections. He said 60 percent people voted in first phase of elections which shows that Kashmir is fast limping to normalcy.
“The polling took place without any fear. Where eight per cent polling used to take place and the Army was taking them (people with security) for voting, it was 60 per cent this time. How people are enthusiastically voting. We hope that it will be higher in other phases. This is the change,” he said.
Highlighting the struggles faced by certain communities in the past in the wake of Article 370, Nadda recalled the plight of the Valmiki community and West Pakistan refugees, who had been denied basic rights in Jammu and Kashmir.
“Valmikis were only allowed to be scavengers. They couldn’t vote or be recognized as State subjects. West Pakistan refugees who came here in 1947, like former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Dy PM, L K Advani couldn’t vote in Assembly elections,” he remarked.
Nadda praised Prime Minister, Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister, Amit Shah for fulfilling the long-standing demand to abolish the dual Constitution, flag and the post of Prime Minister in Jammu and Kashmir.
“It was the BJP and Bharatiya Jana Sangh (BJS) that demanded ‘one nation, one Constitution, and one flag.’ Under Modi’s leadership, that resolution was fulfilled. Now, Gujjars and Paharis have reservation, and Valmiki children can attend medical and engineering colleges. They can now aspire to Government jobs,” he said. Asserting the BJP has deep connections with Jammu, Nadda said the hero of the region — Pandit Prem Nath Dogra — was first national president of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh, which was later called as the BJP.
“The BJP is today world’s biggest political party. The first agitation was launched by Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee against ‘Do Vidhan, Do Nishan, Do Pradhan’ in Jammu and Kashmir in 1953, a year after the BJS was formed. He was arrested in June 1953 from Lakhanpur. He laid down his life in a jail in Srinagar when Sheikh Abdullah was Prime Minister,” he said.
Nadda said the BJP gave reply to such an act on August 5 2019, under the command of Prime Minister, Modi by scrapping Article 370 in the Parliament of India.
“In 1992, Modi had come to Jammu to take part in a rally led by Murli Manohar Joshi. He had said that they will go to Lal Chowk and one day, we will abrogate Article 370. He fulfilled his promise by scrapping Article 370,” he added.
The BJP president condemned the “royal dynasties” of Kashmir, accusing them of corruption and hindering progress in the region.
“These dynasties – Abdullahs, Muftis and Gandhis -promoted scams in banking, power sectors and even the Cricket Association. They want to bring back the dark days of the 1990s,” he charged.
Nadda warned that these political forces were advocating for the resumption of cross-LoC trade, which he claimed had been exploited to smuggle arms and explosives into Jammu and Kashmir.
“In the guise of trade, terrorism was flourishing. You know how arms and explosives were being smuggled through the LoC trade route. In the name of trade, terrorism was making inroads into Jammu and Kashmir. But under Modi’s leadership, terrorism has drastically reduced and incidents are down. Today, no terrorist can survive more than a week. Yet, they want to release terrorists and restore Article 370. If you want peace, BJP candidates” he urged.
“They (NC-Congress) are trying to sell hate in the shops of love. They are pitting one sect against another sect and one community against another community and divide society to fulfil their designs. But they will never be successful,” he added.
The BJP president also emphasized that the Modi Government has transformed India’s political landscape by rooting out corruption and delivering pro-people governance.
“When the Congress was in power, there was casteism, sectarianism, vote-bank politics, divide and rule and dynastic politics and corruption. This was the order of the day, then,” he said.
Nadda said that Modi after taking over as the Prime Minister in 2014 brought major change in the politics and gave birth to the politics of pro-people, good governance, responsive governance and accountable governance and politics of report card.
“This was done by the BJP under Modi. He finished dynastic rule, challenged caste- based politics and brought in the politics of good governance, accountability and development for all – ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas’. Modi has changed the definition and culture of politics in India. That is why we need your support,” he said.
Nadda cautioned against those calling for the return of Article 370 and warned that they would push Jammu and Kashmir back into the hands of the terrorists.
“Today they are saying they will bring back Article 370. They want to release terrorists. They want to bargain with terrorists. They want to push J&K back into terrorism. We are holding the elections in J&K and Pakistan is putting pressure. India is giving them a befitting reply. There is peace,” he said.
Taking a dig at Pakistan, Nadda said that today terrorism has been given a befitting reply.
“You are seeing how Pakistan is keeping an eye on these elections. How they are trying to disrupt these elections. So this is an election of security of Jammu and Kashmir and making forward movement on the path of development. It is an election for the development of Jammu. Jammu has changed a lot,” he added.
On release of the terrorists and resumption of talks with Pakistan, the BJP president said “this will never happen under the rule of Modi and they will never be released”.
On the restoration of statehood, Nadda said the Government is committed to convert Union Territory to State again.
“The Prime Minister has himself assured us about it. But the NC and Congress are doing politics over it,” he added.
Reflecting on India’s global rise under Modi, Nadda noted that while many countries were grappling with economic challenges after the pandemic, India emerged as a bright spot.
“We provided free ration to 80 crore people, controlled inflation and maintained our growth rate. India is now the fifth largest economy in the world and under Modi’s leadership, we will soon be the third largest economy,” he said.
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