Chairman of the Manifesto Committee of the Bharatiya Janata Party and former Deputy Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Nirmal Singh has demanded Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to clarify his position on the election manifesto of the National Conference. He has alleged that the Congress and the National Conference have always promoted bloodshed, terrorism and unrest in Jammu and Kashmir. Nirmal Singh said that once again this alliance (Congress and National Conference) is ready to open the way for terrorism, stone-pelting and unrest here by abolishing the laws implemented in Jammu and Kashmir after August 5, 2019.
He asked Rahul Gandhi whether he will take help from China and Pakistan to bring back Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, as his ally National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah has said. Nirmal Singh said that by not bringing its own manifesto, Congress is standing behind the manifesto of National Conference and is supporting it in advocating for bringing back Article 370. Nirmal Singh said the above in a press conference with party chief spokesperson Sunil Sethi at BJP’s election war room in Chhanni Himmat, Jammu.
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He termed Rahul Gandhi’s visit to Jammu and Kashmir as the beginning of promoting the politics of division. Nirmal Singh said that the whole country is united on Article 370, but Congress is silently supporting the manifesto of National Conference, which is plotting to restore the special status and throw Jammu and Kashmir into the fire of violence again. But the people of Jammu and Kashmir are well aware of the peace and tranquility that BJP has brought here and will not accept such tactics under any circumstances.
The senior BJP leader said that Rahul Gandhi’s election campaign has started with misleading statements in which he has questioned the peace here. Nirmal Singh said, ‘Rahul Gandhi raised questions on the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, it is unfortunate that he is promoting the divisive politics of the Congress. Jammu and Kashmir has been facing violence for three generations, fifty thousand dead bodies have fallen. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has restored peace and order here. Peace was established in Jammu and Kashmir due to the efforts of the Modi government, the sacrifices of the police, the army and the common citizens here, 2.5 crore tourists came here. By taking out a yatra in Kashmir and eating ice cream at Lal Chowk, Rahul Gandhi says there is no peace here.’
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Rahul Gandhi wants the pre-2019 situation in J&K: BJP
Criticising Rahul Gandhi, he further said, ‘Everyone is happy, but Rahul Gandhi has done cheap politics and he wants to bring back the situation before 5 August 2019. Rahul Gandhi made a ridiculous statement that Maharaja Hari Singh was expelled from here in 1947. I will tell the people of Jammu, Rahul Gandhi told the truth, Maharaja Hari Singh was the king here till 1952, he was expelled from here, he was not allowed to return till 1961 and even his dead body was not allowed to come back, only his bones were returned.’
Nirmal Singh said, ‘The Maharaja who merged Jammu and Kashmir with India, played an important role on the international stage, stood firm against Pakistan in the interest of Jammu and Kashmir. But today the policies of Sheikh-Nehru are being repeated again. Congress and National Conference want to bring back the dark period of 1947 to 1953. Today again the people of the third generation want to repeat that history.’ Countering Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s comment on the arrival of outsiders in Jammu and Kashmir, Nirmal Singh said, ‘This statement makes it clear that the National Conference and Congress want to bring back the atmosphere of the Quit Kashmir movement of 1946.’
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He said in a questioning tone, ‘Are they calling our soldiers outsiders? Calling Kashmiri Pandits outsiders who were thrown out? Calling Dogras outsiders? Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah had started the Quit Kashmir movement by calling them outsiders in 1946. They want to bring back the same atmosphere, they want to bring back the dark era of terrorism, today the same people who sacrificed their lives here are protecting them and they are calling them outsiders. Were Gujjars and Bakarwals also outsiders? Those who were denied reservation for decades. For them, the people of Ladakh were outsiders.’ Accusing Rahul Gandhi of tarnishing the image of Jammu and Kashmir and the country, Nirmal Singh said, ‘He adopted many tactics at the international level but all failed, today again Prime Minister Narendra Modi is at the Centre, there is a BJP government.’
Source (PTI) (NDTV) (HINDUSTANTIMES)