Srinagar, Apr 27: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday said that Kashmir was not the fiefdom of regional parties in Jammu and Kashmir but the pride of crores of Indian citizens.
Talking to reporters at Dak Bunglow Khanabal in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district, BJP national general secretary, Ram Madhav said “regional parties are a stumbling block in state’s development.”
“It is not possible that somebody will tell us to leave Kashmir and we will. They (regional parties) think as if Kashmir is the property of their fathers and grandfathers, but the fact is that Kashmir is an integral part of India,” Madhav said.
Madhav also said that their (BJP’s) stand over Article 370 was clear and the decision in this regard will be taken in the Parliament.
The BJP leader that some “temporary measures” were taken in the state in view of the prevailing situation but all these measures will be withdrawn soon. “We hope the Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir will be held soon and people will get their elected representatives once again,” he added.
In response to a query, Madhav said, “In 1975, Indira-Abdullah accord took place with the aim of changing the situation on the ground so that this place could move in right direction. But the kind of politics that was conducted here by the National Conference (NC) in 1987 pushed this state in an entirely different direction. Similarly, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also forged an alliance with Mufti Muhammad Sayeed in 2015 for positivity and development, but again it couldn’t happen…
“Regional parties here are a big stumbling block in the state’s path to development. We have to ensure development here and for that militancy has to end here,” Madhav said.
About voter turnout in Anantnag constituency, Madhav hoped that there will be good voter turnout overall. “Even as the regional parties promised certain things including own prime minister, while some threatened saying Modi’s comeback will be dangerous for state, but people on ground have rejected them and came out to cast their ballots,” he said.
