NL Correspondent
Jammu Tawi, Apr 28
Claiming that the majority of people in Jammu and Kashmir want early abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution that accords special status to the state, the BJP Sunday said the government is working for “total amalgamation” of Kashmiris with the country.
The state unit of the BJP made the claim while launching a blistering attack against National Conference top leadership for terming the BJP-RSS a “greater threat to the state than Pakistan”.
“NC vice president Omar (Abdullah) is unhappy because the BJP is assuring the abolition of Article 370, the demand of crore of Indians, but (he) is perfectly comfortable with Pakistan,” said state BJP spokesperson Brig (Retd) Anil Gupta.
Claiming that for the people of Jammu and Ladakh and a “silent majority” in Kashmir, saving Article 370 is a “non-issue”, Gupta said, “They want its early abrogation so that they can benefit from the economic boom in India, the world's fastest growing economy.”
“Their only hope lies in the BJP. They are sure that only BJP can save them from the evil intents of Pakistan, a hidden ally of Abdullahs,” said Gupta.
“The BJP is determined to find a lasting and permanent solution to the problems in Kashmir. Towards this end, the government is working towards return of Kashmiriyat and Insaniyat and elimination of terrorism to create an environment of safe and peaceful living for the Kashmiris and their total amalgamation with the rest of the country,” he added.
Referring to NC president Farooq Abdullah and his son Omar Abdullah, Gupta said the father-son duo is busy criticising the BJP for “reviving the electoral fortunes of their party” which, he said, was once the strongest political force in the state but currently is in a state of decline.
“Omar's threat assessment in which he claimed RSS-BJP a bigger threat to J&K than Pakistan is not only illogical but weird as there is no comparison between the two,” he said.
Gupta said while the BJP represents the voice of the people of the state, Pakistan is responsible not only for unleashing a proxy war in the state but has also subjugated the voice of the people of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan by engineering large scale demographic changes, allowing China free access there and by denying basic necessities like water and electricity to the residents of these areas.
Referring to Farooq Abdullah's statement that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has failed to embalm people of the state, he said the allegation is far from reality.
“The reality is that the vast majority of the people of Jammu and Kashmir are happy with the prime minister as far as security forces-led ‘Operation All Out' and the Enforcement Directorate and NIA-led operations against the over-ground terror support network and the terror funding are concerned,” Gupta said.
Reacting to Abdullah's another remark that the BJP failed to carry forward the legacy of former Prime Minister AB Vajpayee, Gupta blamed the NC leaders and other mainstream parties for the murder of insaniyat (humanity) and Kashmiriyat in the Valley.
“Insaniyat has become haivaniyat (beastly attitude) and Kashmiriyat has been replaced by Khalifaiyat (Islamic rule),” he alleged.
Rather than trying to mainstream the dissatisfied Kashmiris, these parties contributed towards their further alienation from India by promoting the interests of the Jammat-e-Islami and the Hurriyat while wearing the mask of mainstream parties,” he said.
On JK Spl Status, Ram Madhav tweaks tone
Srinagar, Apr 28
The BJP appears to have tweaked its tone on Article 370 and Article 35A, which gives Jammu and Kashmir its special status. Ram Madhav, the party's general secretary in charge of the state has said while the party's stand is clear, the decision will be made in parliament on the matter.
After addressing an election meeting in Anantnag in Kashmir, Madhav said they would follow the path of Atal Behari Vajpayee on Kashmir and leave the final decision on contentious issue of Article 370 to the collective wisdom of parliament.
“The BJPs stand on this issue is clear but any final decision will be taken by the parliament. We should wait for whatever collective decision parliament will take on it,” said Mr Ram Madhav.
The second phase of voting in Kashmir's Anantnag seat, where election is being held in three phases, will be held tomorrow.
The scrapping of Article 370 and 35A of the constitution is a part of the BJP's core ideology, carried over since the days of Jan Sangh. In its manifesto released earlier this month, the BJP reiterated its stand.
Tension over the preservation of the Articles flared up since last year after Article 35A was challenged in the Supreme Court and for Jammu and Kashmir, it is one of the key themes of the ongoing election.
The battle has united Kashmir's residents, political parties and separatists. Last year, all mainstream parties in the Kashmir Valley boycotted the panchayat elections to register their protest.
The National Conference of Omar Abdullah has dared the BJP to touch either Article, contending they are the basis of the state's accession of India and any change will unravel the union.
Article 35A defines who are the permanent residents of the state and excludes outsiders from owning property in the state and getting benefits, including government jobs.
Article 370 is an extension of Article 35A, which allows Jammu and Kashmir to have its own constitution, flag and the right to handle its own laws, except on matters of national security.
