Jammu: Taking dig at BJP’s orchestrated campaign over revocation of Article 370, Provincial President National Conference Devender Singh Rana Saturday said that repeated assertions over this sensitive issue speaks volumes about the political bankruptcy of the party.
Speaking at a function held in observance of Martyrs Day at Sher-e-Kashmir Bhavan here this morning, Rana said that after feeling isolated and distracted from the masses in the wake of inner-party skirmishes, BJP is struggling to remain relevant in the political spectrum by inciting communal passions.
“Narendra Modi’s latest salvo over Hindu nationalism and justification of 2002 communal riots is an indicator what discourse the party is taking in the ensuing elections,” Rana said and added that this is just the extension of its real agenda of dividing the people over sensitive issues which include Article 370 as well.
“The ill-conceived logic of BJP national general secretary P Muralidhar Rao over Article 370 speaks about his ignorance about the special provision of Constitution that accords
special status to Jammu and Kashmir,” Rana said and challenged the votaries of its revocation to get engaged for a discussion as to how they will realize their mischievous agenda.
“Article 370 defines the relationship of Jammu and Kashmir with India”, he asserted while saying that thinking about its revocation is akin to day dreaming.
The Provincial President reiterated that this provision cannot even be abrogated by even Parliament and said knowing well this harsh reality, BJP leadership was indulging in rhetoric just to push their extremist agenda. He reminded the BJP leadership about the realistic approach of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee over Article 370. Recalling Vajpayee’s reply to a question on Article 370, when he was External Affairs Minister, the veteran leader had said that it is easy to say anything when in Opposition, and it different when in government.
Remembering martyrs, Rana said that the best way of paying tributes to them was to strengthen democracy and secularism in Jammu and Kashmir, which showed the shining example of pluralistic ethos during the most testing times of the history. That was the time when the people galvanized around Sher-e-Kashmir Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah who stood like a rock for Hindu, Muslim and Sikh unity. “This cherished slogan of the towering leader has been the guiding force for National Conference which it has been pursuing with a sense of commitment,” he asserted.
On the occasion, senior Vice President, Rattan Lal Gupta, Provincial Secretary Sheikh Bashir Ahmed, former MLC Th Kashmira Singh, District President Rural Taranjeet Singh Tony, Gurdeep Singh Sassan, Jugal Mahajan also paid tributes to martyrs.
Later, the party leaders and workers observed two minutes silence in memory of the martyrs.
Those present on the occasion included Bimla Luthra, MLA, Satpal Lakhotra, former MLA, Mohinder Gupta, Bashir Ahmad Wani, Vijay Lochan, Surinder Singh Bunty, Vijay Gupta, Dilshada Malik, Veena Oberoi, Pinki Bhat, Dharamveer Singh Jamwal, Subash Bhagat, Pankaj Kohli, Ashok Singh, Ashok Dogra, Rashida Begum, Mudasir Zargar, Andul Wahid Kasana, J D Sodi, Suresh Kumar Sharma, Pandit Rameshwar Dutt, Chander Udhay Singh, Satwant Kour Dogra, Balwinder Singh, Dr. Surjeet Bhagat, Rita Gupta, Suraj Parkash Verma, Pradeep Bali, Rohit Bali and others. |
