Jammu, Aug 29: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national General Secretary Tarun Chug, who is also the party’s in-charge for Jammu & Kashmir, on Thursday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has brought about a historic transition in the union territory.
“A new era has set in for the people of J&K. The region has been transformed from stones to laptops,” he said while addressing a press conference here.
Chugh dared Abdullahs, Muftis and Gandhis to have an open debate with the BJP on the situation J&K witnessed post-August 5, 2019. “I am ready for an open debate with Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti and those from the Gandhi family. Let the media decide the time and venue,” he said.
“Let Omar and Mehbooba debate with us on what has changed after the abrogation of Article 370. We have the official figures on terror incidents, civilian killings, security forces’ killings and stone pelting incidents before and after August 5, 2019,” the BJP leader said.
Chug, who was flanked by Union Minister GK Reddy, BJP MPs Jugal Kishore and Dr Jitendera Singh, said that 55 civilian killings took place in 2018. “There were only 23 killings in 2023 and just 14 in 2024 so far,” he said. “Similarly, 90 security forces personnel were killed in 2018, but in 2023, the number is only 30 and it has gone down to just 14 in 2024.”
He added, “Once there were 1328 stone pelting incidents a year and in 2023 and 2024 no stone pelting incident has taken place. Stone pelting has vanished. Terrorism is breathing its last breath and the number of local terrorists is almost zero. Fake encounters have vanished.”
Taking a jibe at the National Conference President Dr Farooq Abdullah, he said the NC chief talks about releasing the jailed leaders. “I want to ask him whom he is going to release—those who were promoting stone pelting and terror. Do they want to revive the stone pelting and gun culture in Kashmir,” he said. (KNO)
