Jammu, Sept 12: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Spokesperson for Jammu & Kashmir, Abhijeet Jasrotia on Thursday accused the National Conference (NC) of weakening the Village Defence Guards (VDGs) and defaming its members.
Addressing a press conference at the BJP media centre in reaction to Omar Abdullah’s remarks, Jasrotia, who was accompanied by the party spokespersons, Girdhari Lal Raina (former MLC) and Balbir Ram Rattan, Dr Pradeep Mahotra, J&K BJP Media Incharge, said, “Omar has labelled the VDG members as the workers of BJP. This is a mockery of VDGs and targeting a particular community, who successfully prevented the major dislodgment of the locals from their native places to save their lives.”
“Is Mohd Sharief, who was martyred, a BJP worker?” Jasrotia questioned. “NC always weakened VDGs and its members were not given remuneration for months together.”
He accused the former chief minister of dividing the VDGs along religious lines, saying that VDGs have rendered services and sacrifices in the fight against terrorism.
“VDGs are the first line of defence in the fight against terrorism,” he added.
The BJP spokesperson reminded Abdullah that terrorism in the region started after the “electoral manipulations” of 1987 and that the former chief minister knows well why VDCs were created.
“Both Hindus and Muslims were given arms, not on religious grounds, but to fight the terrorism,” Jasrotia said, adding, “Everyone made sacrifice for peace in Jammu & Kashmir.”
