Srinagar, Nov 19: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Advocate Shujaat Rizvi on Sunday criticised the National Conference president Dr Farooq Abdullah for accusing the party of neglecting Jammu, calling his statement “immature and baseless”.
Rizvi said the BJP has a history of securing a majority of seats from Jammu, which is due to the party’s “inclusive” and “non-discriminatory” politics.
“The BJP has never discriminated on the basis of sect, caste, or creed, whether in Jammu or Kashmir. For us, the nation’s unity and progress take precedence,” he said.
Rizvi urged the people of Kashmir to “adopt a politically mature approach like voters in Jammu, who supported the BJP, recognising its commitment to national development”.
“Our nation stretches from Kashmir to Kanyakumari, and BJP’s vision encompasses all regions equally. It is the National Conference (NC) that has perpetuated discrimination between Jammu and Kashmir,” he asserted.
Pointing to the NC’s track record, the BJP leader questioned why the party never allowed a Chief Minister from Jammu. “Is this not proof of their neglect towards Jammu? For NC, the idea of equality within the Union Territory seems absent. In contrast, the BJP believes in equal opportunities and inclusive growth for all,” he said.
“Abdullah is inconsistent in his rhetoric, delivering different narratives in Kashmir, Jammu, and Delhi, while the BJP is committed to developing and uniting the entire Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir,” he said. “The BJP has never side-lined any region of J&K. Our vision is for a peaceful, prosperous, and developed Jammu and Kashmir as a whole.”
