Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 17: Senior BJP leader and former Minister, Bali Bhagat launched a scathing attack on the past Kashmiri leadership, accusing them of playing a “double role” and failing to restore normalcy in Jammu and Kashmir during their rule.
Bali Bhagat said that the demand for restoration of Statehood is being raised by the same Kashmiri leaders of Congress, NC and PDP who are themselves responsible for its loss, as their failure to control law and order, their double standards and soft approach towards separatists and terrorists pushed Jammu and Kashmir into turmoil.
He said that when Jammu and Kashmir was a State, shutdowns were a routine feature from the 1990s till 2018 under the rule of leaders like Farooq Abdullah, Omar Abdullah Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and Mehbooba Mufti, as these leaders failed to control the situation due to their soft corner towards separatists and terrorists.
“However, after the abrogation of Article 370 and 35-A and the reorganisation of J&K into a Union Territory, shutdowns, stone pelting declined rapidly and normalcy was restored under the decisive leadership of the Narendra Modi-led Central Government,” Bali Bhagat asserted.
Recalling the violent phase from June to September 2010 under the Omar Abdullah-led Government, Bhagat said that protesters, mostly youth, defied curfews, raised pro-independence slogans, torched police vehicles, and attacked Government buildings. “The unrest escalated to such an extent that as many as 117 people lost their lives in police action during Omar Abdullah’s regime,” he said.
Targeting PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti, the BJP leader said that during her tenure as Chief Minister (2016-2018), civilian killings again shook the Valley, especially after the encounter of terrorist Burhan Wani. “Over 100 deaths occurred including civilians and security personnel and near about 100 youths lost their eyesight due to pellet gun injuries,” he stated. Bhagat also reminded that the PDP-BJP coalition Government collapsed in June 2018 due to the worsening security situation, forcing Mehbooba Mufti to resign.
He hit out at Congress leaders Saifuddin Soz and Tariq Hameed Karra for their controversial remarks on India’s counter measures against Pakistan after the Pahalgam attack. “Soz even went to the extent of saying that if Pakistan denies involvement, India should accept its word. This is the real mentality of such leaders,” Bhagat alleged.
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