BJP defends decision not to field candidates from 3 LS seats in Kashmir

STATE TIMES NEWS

Jammu: Facing criticism for not putting up candidates on the three Lok Sabha seats in the Kashmir valley, Jammu and Kashmir BJP on Saturday said sometimes “decisions are made to achieve a big goal” and the BJP is supporting “patriotic” parties.
Jammu and Kashmir BJP chief Ravinder Raina said the party is finalising its strategy under the leadership of national president J P Nadda on the three seats of Anantnag-Rajouri, Srinagar and Baramulla on providing support to the contesting candidates as he requested people to reject the Congress, National Conference and PDP for the larger interest of the region.
Raina said this while addressing a press conference before chairing a high-level meeting at party office here, which was attended by Union Minister Jitendra Singh, national general secretary, incharge J&K, Tarun Chugh and others.
“We were desirous of fighting the elections from all the three Lok Sabha seats in Kashmir on our own strength. But sometimes different decisions are made to achieve a big goal, setting aside personal interests. We are supporting those parties who are patriotic, working for betterment of Kashmir, strengthening peace and brotherhood and eager to serve the society,” Raina said.
Without identifying any such candidate or the party, he said they will soon meet Nadda and other central leaders to discuss the strategy and will reveal the names so that the BJP workers and supporters can vote for them.
“We will work in accordance with the roadmap with full force and the candidates having support of the BJP will definitely win the elections as our party has a strong support base and organisational structure and network in every nook and corner of Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.
Raina said Union Home Minister Amit Shah, addressing an election rally in Jammu on April 16, had asked the people in Kashmir to reject the Congress, National Conference and PDP, who have “ruined” the region and prefer other parties contesting the elections from the three seats.
“The home minister made it clear that we have to fight together to defeat the dynastic parties who have pushed J&K into a fire. They have ruled J&K for many decades in the past and brought death and destruction in the valley. They (Congress, NC and PDP) are the enemies of Kashmiris because they have been indulging in politics of hatred and they are doing everything to push J&K back to the old days of violence,” he said.
Chugh said the fight is between Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who “freed Jammu and Kashmir from the clutches of Article 370”, and the three dynastic parties – the Congress, National Conference and PDP – who “exploited” people over the decades under the constitutional provision.
Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said that the issue of BJP not yet declaring candidates on the three Lok Sabha seats in the Kashmir valley is being discussed.
“Best of the people are discussing this and I assure you that whatever is being evaded, will be taken care of soon,” he said, adding that the party “has not left any ground”.
Meanwhile, the BJP expresses gratitude to people for the massive turn-out in the Kathua-Udhampur-Doda Parliamentary constituency, said Ravinder Raina adding that the party will win the Jammu-Reasi Parliamentary seat with a record margin.
Ravinder Raina, in presence of former Deputy Chief Minister Kavinder Gupta, former Minister Sat Sharma, former MLA Balwant Singh Mankotia and Office Secretary Tilak Raj Gupta, expressed gratitude to all the voters for voting massively on the 19th of April for the Udhampur-Doda-Kathua Parliamentary Constituency. He said that the people in all Districts voted in massive numbers despite bad weather on the poll day. He said that such massive poling in the harsh weather proves the commitment of the voters, who polled more than 70% votes.
While mentioning all the far-flung areas, he said that people from all these areas showed enthusiastic participation in the polling.
“People have voted massively in the favour of BJP and the party is leading in all these areas. BJP activists have dedicatedly worked for this enthusiastic response and have left no stone unturned and the party is equally thankful to the people and the ground workers”, he added.
“The BJP is set to get massive votes in the upcoming polling in the Jammu-Reasi Parliamentary Constituency on 26th April from all the areas, whether rural or urban. There is a massive wave in favour of BJP and the party will score a record victory margin in this Parliamentary Constituency”, said Raina while answering a query.
The people have expressed unconditional love and support for the BJP and the party’s Parliamentary candidate Jugal Kishore Sharma. This support is clearly visible in the massive rallies by the party leaders in all the parts of this Parliamentary constituency, added Raina.
Raina also said that the BJP has gained a massive organizational base in Jammu as well as Kashmir with all the development initiatives by the Modi government, adding that the BJP has a major political presence in the other Parliamentary constituencies in Jammu & Kashmir now.