JAMMU: BJP president JP Nadda on Friday accused National Conference (NC)-Congress combine and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of trying to revive the “era of violence and bloodshed” in J&K.
“They are supporting activists working against the country. NC’s manifesto says it will release terrorists (from jails), resume cross-border trade and talks with Pakistan. This is how NC is supporting anti-India forces and Congress is backing it,” Nadda told a news conference in Jammu.
The BJP chief was speaking on a day he addressed a rally at Billawar in Jammu’s Kathua ahead of the final phase of J&K assembly polls on October 1.
“NC and Congress have struck a deal to save their families and promote corruption. They are least bothered about the people of J&K,” Nadda said, echoing PM Narendra Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah’s dynastic charge at the two parties.
Nadda hailed the momentous polls, saying the “people of J&K have rejected bullets and chosen the path of ballots”. “They have given a befitting reply to bullets. This is the first election after which not only representatives of PoK and J&K but also nominated members of Kashmiri migrants will sit in the assembly,” Nadda said.
He was alluding to the families of PoK refugees who came in 1947 and settled in J&K as well as those of Kashmiri Pandits forced to leave the Valley after the onset of terrorism in the 1990s. The new assembly will have one nominated member of PoK refugees and two of Pandits.
Referring to the J&K visit by heads of missions of 16 countries during the polls, Nadda described it as an international stamp on the peaceful exercise. “They saw the law and order and how people have increasingly participated in the polls.”
Nadda stressed the importance of the abrogation of J&K’s special status by the Modi govt, highlighting the development schemes ushered in by the Centre after the Aug 2019 decision. “After the abrogation of Article 370, J&K has become a place for premier institutions, from AIIMS to IITs and emerged as a knowledge hub. This is PM Modi’s gift to J&K,” the BJP chief said.
