Jammu. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President J P Nadda on Sunday described the Congress and the National Conference (NC) as “non-nationalist forces” and said that Pakistan’s Defense Minister himself has given a “certificate” to both the parties for running the agenda of the neighboring country in Jammu and Kashmir. He also mentioned the “wave of change” in Jammu and Kashmir under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and also emphasized the “deep connection” of the BJP with the Union Territory.
Nadda claimed that there has been a significant decline in terror attacks and under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, the life of terrorists is “only a few days” but these parties are trying to compromise with them. He said at a rally in Burney area of Jammu district, “They (NC, Congress and those compromising with terrorists) are non-nationalist forces. These are the people who talk about releasing terrorists and starting trade across the Line of Control and compromise with them. They are not nationalist forces. Pakistan’s Defense Minister himself has given them a certificate. Everyone knows what they have said.”
While campaigning for party candidate and former minister Sham Lal Sharma from Jammu North seat, Nadda said, “Pakistan’s Defence Minister has said that NC and Congress in India are promoting their agenda and they want to restore Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir. Will you support people certified from Pakistan? Remember, they are not nationalists.” Accusing the Congress, NC and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) of “corruption” and “ruining” Jammu and Kashmir, Nadda said, “These three political dynasties – Abdullah family, Mufti family and Nehru-Gandhi family have harmed Kashmir. They did corruption on a large scale and ruined this beautiful state.” Nadda alleged that they want to return Jammu and Kashmir to the situation prevailing in the 1990s.
This election is for the stability of Jammu and Kashmir and to strengthen India: Nadda
Union Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) National President J.P. Nadda on Sunday said that the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections are important not only for the security and stability of the region but also for the stability of the entire India. The BJP President emphasized that the government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has changed the political landscape of India by eliminating corruption and providing people-friendly governance.
In a roadshow held in Jammu city on Sunday evening, Nadda said, “This is not just an election for BJP or any other party. This is an election for the stability of Jammu and Kashmir and to strengthen India. This is not an election to elect MLAs. This is not an election to give blessings. This will bring Jammu and Kashmir into the mainstream of development, it will give stability to Jammu and Kashmir.” Nadda, who came to campaign in support of BJP candidate Yudhvir Sethi in Jammu East, said, “This is an election between nationalist forces and disruptive forces.” He said, “I am confident that nationalist forces will win and disruptive and divisive forces will face a crushing defeat. This election will ensure the stability of not only Jammu and Kashmir but the entire country.” The BJP president said that this is also an election to end the decades-long injustice with Jammu and Kashmir and bring it into the national mainstream of development.
The BJP president also addressed a meeting of intellectuals here. He praised the enthusiasm of people in democracy as a large number of people voted in the first phase of elections.
He said, “In the first phase of the election, 60 percent voting took place without any fear. Earlier, there used to be eight percent voting and the army used to take them (people with security) to vote, there the figure was sixty percent. This time people are voting with so much enthusiasm, we hope that it will be more in other phases.” Underlining the struggles faced by some communities in the past due to Article 370 implemented in the state, Nadda recalled the plight of the Valmiki community and refugees from Pakistan at the time of partition, who were deprived of basic rights in Jammu and Kashmir.
He said, “The Valmiki community was only allowed to work as a sweeper. They could not vote or get recognition in the state list. Like former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, refugees who came here from Pakistan in 1947 could not vote in the assembly elections.” Nadda praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah for fulfilling the long-standing demand to end the system of ‘two constitutions, two symbols two Prime Minister’ in Jammu and Kashmir.
Nadda said, “It was the BJP and the Bharatiya Jana Sangh (BJS) that demanded ‘one country, one constitution and one flag’. That resolve was fulfilled under Modi ji’s leadership. Now, Gujjars and Paharis have got reservation, and children of the Valmiki community can study in medical and engineering colleges. They can now aspire for government jobs.” The BJP president stressed that the party has deep ties with Jammu. He said the region’s hero Pandit Prem Nath Dogra was the first national president of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh, later called the BJP.
He said, “BJP is the largest political party in the world today. In 1953, a year after the formation of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh, Sham Prasad Mukherjee started the first movement against ‘two constitutions, two flags, two heads’ in Jammu and Kashmir. He was arrested from Lakhanpur in June 1953 and gave up his life in a Srinagar jail.” Nadda said that the BJP responded to such an act by removing Article 370 in the Parliament of India on August 5, 2019 under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi. He said, “Modi ji came to Jammu in 1992 to participate in a rally led by Murli Manohar Joshi. He said that he would go to Lal Chowk and one day, we will remove Article 370. He fulfilled his promise by removing Article 370.” The BJP president condemned the ‘royal families’ of Kashmir and accused them of corruption and obstructing progress in the region. He alleged, “These are the families Abdullah, Mufti and Gandhi who promoted scams in banking, power sector and even cricket association. They want to bring back the dark days of the 1990s.” Nadda warned that these political forces are advocating the resumption of trade across the Line of Control. He claimed that it was used to smuggle weapons and explosives into Jammu and Kashmir.
He said, “Terrorism was flourishing under the guise of trade. You know how weapons and explosives were being smuggled through the LoC trade route. Terrorism was infiltrating Jammu and Kashmir in the name of trade. But terrorism has reduced drastically under Modi ji’s leadership and incidents have come down. Today no terrorist can survive for more than a week. Still, they want to release the terrorists and restore Article 370. If you want peace, choose Sham Lal Sharma.” The BJP president said, “They are trying to sell hatred in the shops of love. They are pitting one sect against another sect and one community against another community and dividing the society to fulfill their designs. But they will never succeed.” He claimed that the Modi government has changed the political landscape of India by eliminating corruption and providing people-friendly governance.
Nadda said, “When the Congress was in power, there was casteism, communalism, vote-bank politics, divide and rule, dynastic politics and corruption. This was the order of the day.” He said that after taking over as the Prime Minister in 2014, Modi brought about a big change in politics and gave rise to the politics of people-friendly, good governance, responsive governance and accountable governance and report card.
Nadda warned that those demanding the return of Article 370 will again push Jammu and Kashmir into terrorism. On the release of terrorists and resumption of talks with Pakistan, the BJP president said, “This will never happen under Modi’s rule and they will never be released.” On the issue of restoring the state status of Jammu and Kashmir, the BJP president said that the government is committed to giving the Union Territory the status of a state again.