Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 9: Ashok Bhan senior Congress leader today accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of betraying the people of Jammu and Kashmir by not fulfilling the tall promises made by it in 2014 elections and of Naya Kashmir made by party in 2019 elections.
Speaking to Kashmiri young entrepreneurs in a webinar, he said one of the causes of the new age turbulence is attributed to the betrayal of democratic expectations. The youth had participated in large numbers in the electoral process in the 2014 State Assembly elections and voted out the incumbent Government headed by Omar Abdullah.
The BJP-PDP political unholy collation polarised the State in regional drift and rift. The people’s mandate was betrayed with misgovernance and incompetence to manage the complex political affairs. All the hopes and promises to respect the distinct, united and unique characteristics of the State were dusted, he added.
Bhan said in the absence of good governance, the militancy in the Valley, seems to have developed an autonomous raison d’être. Recent killing of Babar Qadri an articulate lawyer, a voice of moderation is an eye opener. Demeaning Kashmiri leadership and making them irrelevant by muscle and misinformation campaign, as an agenda is the most unwise policy of BJP. Kashmir analysts are surprised that New Delhi’s policy and its political managers are so incompetent, apolitical and naive, as not to be willing to leave any space or room for the Kashmiri leadership to exert a moderating influence that could prevent youngsters from taking up the gun.
He said Kashmir has been on the boil for more than 30 years. Tens of thousands of people, both civilians and soldiers have died and the population of Kashmiri Pandits exiled. Kashmir affairs are seemingly messed up by BJP. Terrorism has rendered the State, especially the Valley, without liberty and individuality. It has devastated the economy, education and normal living pattern, the plural ethos, and imperilled institutions. People know the disastrous consequences of the harm Pakistan and terrorists have done, he added.
Bhan said equally culpable is the muscle policy pursued by ruling party after the State was bifurcated into two smaller Union Territories. People are virtually caught up between (2Ms) Militants and Muscle policy.
The current political situation in Jammu & Kashmir can only be set right and people’s aspirations responded by Indian National Congress which has visionary and experienced leadership and dynamic cadres in the UTs that can salvage the political drift, incompetence and huge disconnect of the administration with people.