STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: Accusing Pakistan of working on its “unfinished agenda” to separate Jammu and Kashmir from India, BJP on Sunday said it is anti-separatists and will not give any concession to such forces.
“Pakistan is working on its unfinished agenda of separating the state of Jammu and Kashmir from India. The anti-India agenda of Pakistan is to work against Indian interest and they are still working on this agenda to separate the state of J and K from India,” senior BJP leader and Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said while addressing party’s vision seminar here at Hotel Ritz Manor, he said that BJP wants to bring “nationalistic” mainstream political parties in J&K.
“There is no concession for the separatist forces in Kashmir, but we will work for the welfare of the common people in the Valley as well. BJP will work for the welfare of the common people of Kashmir and we always will be anti-separatists,” he said.
Jaitley said that BJP is committed to provide secure and safe environment to the people of the state.
“Humanity does not demand that terrorists kill innocent people, harass them, it does not demand death of the innocent citizens in the hands of police and security forces in anti-terrorist operations. We are committed to ensure security of the common citizens,” he said.
Commenting on the issue of regional discrimination being faced by the people of Jammu and Ladakh, Jaitley said that his party wants to end it.
“The residents of Jammu, Leh and Ladakh feel that they are discriminated, they are told to tolerate this discrimination as they are nationalist,” he said.
“You are nationalist so you are expected to suffer,” he said while referring to the distribution of resources, educational institutions and the division of Assembly seats between the three regions.
Jaitley said his party is committed to end the “regional imbalance” between the three regions of the state.
He said that BJP’s mission 44 plus is aimed at ending the discrimination by empowering the people of the two “neglected regions” of the state.
The welcome address was delivered by BJP State Spokesperson Sunil Sethi while vote of thanks was presented by BJP JK Cell State Convener, S.S Bijral.
Union MoS in PMO Dr. Jitendra Singh, BJP National General Secretary (Org.) Ram Lal, Leader of Legislative Party Ashok Khajuria, National Executive Member, Shamsher Singh Manhas, State Spokesperson Sunil Sethi (Adv.) and BJP JK Cell State Convener, S.S Bijral shared the dais.