Srinagar, July 13: BJP J&K general secretary and former MLC Vibodh Gupta on Thursday countered the assertions of National Conference (NC) leader Omar Abdullah about the saffron party’s declining influence in the Union Territory, saying it is the NC, not the BJP that has lost ground here.
Speaking at a gathering at Lurkote village in Rajouri, Vibodh claimed that Omar Abdullah’s politics is confined to Twitter and is far from reality. He urged him to reassess the ground reality and acknowledge that “there is no significant support for the NC” in the Union Territory. On the contrary, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s influence is evident across the length and breadth of Jammu and Kashmir, with BJP flags flying high, he said in a statement.
The BJP leader pointed out the “tainted history of the rigged assembly elections” of 1987, saying, “During (that period), the entire state machinery orchestrated manoeuvres to ensure Farooq Abdullah’s return as chief minister and secure the defeat of Muslim United Front (MUF) candidates”.
“National Conference has no moral authority to lecture on democracy. The selfish parties such as the NC and PDP have failed to bring the culprits responsible for the plight of Kashmiri Hindu Pandits to justice. It is only under the leadership of the Modi government that justice has been delivered and the perpetrators of Kashmiri Hindu Pandit have been appropriately punished, he said.
“JK youth will give a befitting reply to the leaders of NC-PDP for their role in pushing them towards terrorism and unleashing a devastating era of bloodshed in the UT. Fed up with the manipulative tactics employed by NC-PDP leaders, the youth of Jammu and Kashmir have decided to rise above their divisive agendas and explore opportunities under the Modi government for a prosperous future,” Vibodh said.
On the occasion, BJP District General Secretary Ranjeet Tara applauded the Modi government for its “commendable efforts” in promoting democratic decentralization in Jammu and Kashmir. He commended the government’s “proactive measures” in empowering local governance bodies, which he said have significantly contributed to the development and progress of the UT.
District Vice President Sanjay Sharma said, “The bottom-up approach to governance by BJP has facilitated better decision-making, increased citizen participation, and accelerated socio-economic development in Jammu and Kashmir.” District Secretary Shazia Tabasum expressed her belief that the Gujjar community is experiencing a sense of empowerment and security under the leadership of the Modi government. She highlighted that the government’s emphasis on equal development and welfare for all has resulted in improved access to education, healthcare, and various socio-economic opportunities for the Gujjar community. Prominent leaders present on the occasion were Sanjay Sharma, Kush Sharma, Harish Bharti, Shamsheer Singh, Deepak Kumar, Subash Sharma, Rahul Sharma, Lovely Bakshi, Rinku Sharma, Sajjan Sharma and Ranjit Singhu.
