JAMMU: Core Group of the Jammu and Kashmir BJP on Saturday took stock of the prevailing political and overall security situation in the State and chalked out its strategy to deal with the emerging crisis in the wake of killing of HM terrorist Burhan Wani.
During the meeting, senior BJP leaders also discussed statements of the senior PDP leaders, raising question marks over the details of the operation in which Burhan Wani was killed in Kokernag area of Anantnag district on July 8. The issue may create fresh rift between the alliance partners in the coming days if the situation took ugly turn, especially after Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has extended support to the people of Kashmir and declared his government would observe black day on July 19 in protest against the killing of ‘innocent’ Kashmiris by the security forces.
During the meeting, senior BJP leaders including Minster of State in the Prime Minister’s Office Dr Jitendra Singh, BJP National Vice President Avinash Rai Khanna, Deputy Chief Minister Prof Nirmal Singh, BJP MPs Jugal Kishore and Shamsher Singh Manhas, State BJP Chief Sat Pal Sharma, State Ministers Chandra Prakash Ganga and Bali Bhagat, Ashok Khajuria, Organisational Secretary Ashok Kaul, State General secretary Narinder Singh and Pawan Khajuria,Harinder Gupta attended the meeting.
According to party sources, thorough discussions were held over the prevailing situation in the State and how to counter the malicious propaganda against the party leadership. The party leaders also took stock of the ongoing Amarnath yatra and discussed certain measures needed immediately to instil confidence among the pilgrims.
The Core Group also took note of the activities of the anti-national elements, as the same has affected the smooth conduct of the Amarnath pilgrimage this year.
At present the party is facing lot of heat over poor yatra arrangements and its political rivals have been exposing the double speak of the party to further damage their image in the eyes of the electorate.
The BJP leaders in the State including senior ministers have come under scanner as they initially ignored the plight of the stranded pilgrims and relied on State bureaucracy to bail them out. After lot of hue and cry was raised by the pilgrims, suffering in isolation, the state machinery was activated by the BJP ministers to save their own skin.
In the meeting Avinash Rai Khanna said that the people of Jammu & Kashmir have to defeat the evil designs of anti-national elements, who have vitiated peaceful atmosphere in the State, particularly in Kashmir valley, which has also disturbed the annual yatra of Shri Amarnath ji. He said that the party at the national level too is keeping eye on the whole situation and the Union Government has also ensured every kind of help to the state government for restoring peace and normalcy.
Sat Sharma, on behalf of the State unit of BJP, appealed the people of Kashmir in particular to maintain peace and harmony and extend every possible help in ensuring that there is no further violence or law and order problem. He said that such situations affect the normal life and the people who are dependent on daily earnings for survival are badly hit. He said that the party is in regular touch with the administration and it is impressed upon to take remedial steps so that the people in the valley are not made to suffer any more. Dr. Jitendra Singh briefed about the discussions held during the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent high level meeting on Kashmir and said that the Union Government is keeping vigil on the developments in Jammu and Kashmir. He said that review meetings on daily basis are held at New Delhi to discuss the latest situation in the State.
Dr. Nirmal Singh gave detailed presentation on various measures being taken by the State Government towards restoring normalcy besides the course of action related to the safety and security of the pilgrims visiting Shri Amarnath cave to perform darshan. He said that the government is concerned for the smooth conduct of the yatra and no stone will be left unturned to enforce the law.