Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, Dec 7: Describing Hurriyat Conference as the greatest hurdle in peace process in Kashmir valley, BJP national general secretary, incharge J&K Ram Madhav today took a dig at the conglomerate’s invitation to tourists to visit Kashmir and said that instead of tourists the separatists were more interested in welcoming the terrorists to Valley.
Talking to reporters here, today, Madhav also took the former Chief Minister of the State and National Conference patriarch, Dr Farooq Abdullah to task for announcing support to separatist Hurriyat Conference in its struggle and questioned his change of mind. The BJP leader who also ruled out any reshuffle in the portfolios of party Ministers, termed the reports in this regard only a speculation.
Commenting on Hurriyat’s invitation of “tourists” to Kashmir, Madhav said the separatists were more interested in welcoming “terrorists” to the Valley.
“I consider it a spelling mistake by Hurriyat people. They might have mistakenly said tourists in place of terrorists. They always welcome terrorists to Kashmir,” he added.
The BJP national general secretary said nobody trusted the separatists and if they were so “sincere” about peace, they should stop issuing calendars of shutdowns.
“On one side, Hurriyat preach terrorism and on the other, they issue calendars by shutting down shops, business establishments and educational institutions. Then, they do this drama of issuing statements of inviting tourists to Kashmir,” he said.
Stating that this was the “biggest hypocrisy” by the Hurriyat, Madhav said, “If they want tourists in Kashmir, they should first restore peace in the Valley. But unfortunately, they are the biggest hurdle in restoration of peace and normalcy in Kashmir.”
Hitting out at National Conference, leader, Farooq Abdullah for supporting the Hurriyat’s call, he questioned the NC leader’s “change of mind”.
“Farooq Abdullah’s statement is very unfortunate and surprising. He is the same Farooq, who used to release statements against Hurriyat Conference in Kashmir valley and in Parliament and today suddenly he wants to move forward on the path of Hurriyat,” he added.
“The statement is either outcome of his age factor or it is due to political compulsions of NC leader’’, said Madhav.
Madhav while terming his visit to Jammu as a routine affair also ruled out speculations in change in portfolios of BJP Ministers and said there is no such proposal with the Party.
He said he visits the State from time to time to review the PDP-BJP coordination, so his two days visit this time was not special. “The allegations of corruption levelled against the BJP Ministers by opposition are false and there is no truth in that’’, he added.
Terming the demonetization decision of Narendra Modi Government as historic, Madhav said that some people may face problems for some time but in the long run it will be in the overall national interests. The majority of people all over the country have supported the demonetization, he added.
Earlier, Madhav held the Core Group meeting in the morning in which the functioning of the party and the Government was discussed by him with the members of Core Group.
According to party sources the detailed discussions were held on functioning of the coalition, working of Ministers and the recent controversies surfacing them were also brought into the notice of the visiting leader by some members of the Group while quoting the news paper reports also.
The Core Group meeting besides BJP State chief Sat Sharma was also attended by Deputy Chief Minister, Dr Nirmal Singh, MLC Ashok Khajuria, BJP general secretaries Ashok Kaul, Dr Narender Singh, Pawan Khajuria and Harinder Gupta besides RSS senior leader Parshotam Dadichi.
Later, Madhav called on Governor N N Vohra at Raj Bhawan here and he was closeted with him for half an hour.
Madhav discussed various important issues relating to security management, infrastructural development and speeding up of growth and development process with Governor.
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