Jammu: A prominent social worker along with his supporters on Sunday joined the BJP here, a party spokesperson said.
Surinder Singh Gilli was welcomed into the party by senior leaders, including vice-president Sham Lal Sharma, general secretary (organisation) Ashok Koul, MP Jugal Kishore and former legislator Devender Singh Rana, he said.
The leaders hoped that Gilli and his supporters will further strengthen the BJP at the grassroot, the spokesperson said.
Addressing the function, Koul said the BJP is well poised to restore national pride and make India a world leader.
“The party got a big fillip in 1989 when the cadre of various political parties joined the BJP which was a logical beginning of the new era of politics in the country. This had to happen as streams have to ultimately merge in the big ocean – the BJP,” he said.
Cautioning against “anti-national” acts being perpetrated by elements inimical to unity, integrity and sovereignty of the country, Koul said “if analysed, the ongoing tirade on ‘Hijab’ is the manifestation of the seeds of hatred sown decades ago”.
Koul also attributed the prevailing political ills across the country to the Congress, and said it was not a good omen for the country.
Referring to the role of National Conference (NC), he slammed the party for observing July 13 as the “so-called” Martyrs Day, saying it “relates to the atrocities committed on minorities in 1931.”
Koul also recalled the abrogation of Article 370 under the premiership of Narendra Modi and said soon after the BJP declared the Accession Day as holiday as on this historic day Maharaja Hari Singh had signed the Instrument of Accession.
Rana exuded confidence that under the leadership of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, all regions and sub-regions of Jammu and Kashmir will grow as vibrant units with opportunities of progress to all, without any discrimination or any favour of appeasement.
Referring to the widespread protests over the interim report of the delimitation commission, he said the draft report is aimed at providing equitable political empowerment to each individual in Jammu and Kashmir which is the essence of democracy.
