Modi Govt scripts new chapter of development in J&K: Chug

BJP general secretary Tarun Chugh, party's J&K UT president Ravinder Raina and other senior leaders of the party at a press conference in Jammu on Sunday. -Excelsior/Rakesh
BJP general secretary Tarun Chugh, party's J&K UT president Ravinder Raina and other senior leaders of the party at a press conference in Jammu on Sunday. -Excelsior/Rakesh

‘Sizeable number of people got real freedom after annulling 370’

Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, Sept 25: Maintaining that Narendra Modi Government scripted new chapter of development in J&K, BJP national general secretary and in charge J&K and Ladakh UTs, Tarun Chug today accused the dynastic parties including National Conference (NC) and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) of deliberately depriving a big section of society during their rule with the result the poor became much poorer in J&K.
Talking to reporters here today along with BJP J&K president Ravinder Raina and other senior leaders, he said the Modi Government has scripted a new history of development in J&K. He said thought there was an impediment in our march to development during last two years due to COVID pandemic but now the UT is treading fast on the path of development and progress.
Justifying the annulling of Articles 370 and 35 A from Indian Constitution, he said “We brought those people in the main political stream who were deprived of their rights by dynastic parties for decades together”. They included SCs, STs, women etc, he added.
He said “Modi Government gave opportunities of progress and development to this sizeable number of people and now HM is visiting J&K to address the public rallies in the backward and far flung areas of the UT.
He said besides, the people of some remote areas of the J&K like Rajouri and Poonch districts in Jammu region and Baramulla district in Kashmir valley were also neglected by previous regimes. So during his three days tour Union Home Minister, Amit Shah will visit these districts and address massive public rallies there.
He said Shah will address a rally on October 1 at Rajouri and on October 2 at Baramulla. Besides, he will visit different places in the UT and deliberate on prevailing situation.
Chug reiterated that the J&K people got real freedom to progress and prosperity the day the Articles 370 and 35 A were annulled by Modi Government. “The people of UT were freed from the chains which were impediments in their progress and development in the erstwhile State,” he added.
The BJP leader said that there is no question of re-introducing 370 into the Constitution as it has become a part of history now created by the BJP.
He also refuted that the HM’s visit to J&K was in connection to holding of Assembly elections in the UT and said that BJP as a party is 24x7x365 ready for poll. The decision regarding holding of Assembly poll will be taken by Election Commission of India (ECI) which is a Constitutional body. The process in this regard has been already started with delimitation of constituencies in the UT and summary revision of electoral rolls, he added.
Accusing the dynastic parties for present turmoil and militancy in J&K, Chug said they promoted terrorism as their policies forced youth to take to arms while we are replacing terrorism with tourism. “Their policies made youth stone pelters and we are utilizing those stones for development of the UT by constructing roads and channelising the energies of youth for nation building”, he added.
The BJP leader said that his party is committed to “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas and Sabka Priyas” and pursing this policy Modi Government is going to bring an industrial revolution in J&K and tourism has been given boost under his leadership.
He said there is a disenable change in J&K now and Airports are flooded with private airlines. Tourist places like Pahalgam, religious yatras like Vaishno Mata, Amarnath ji are flooded with visitors. Now J&K’s resources are being utilized for its development, ” said Chug, adding “Our motto is that J&K should be brought at par with other developed States and UTs of country”.
While detailing about Shah’s three days visit, he said HM will meet the intellectuals and prominent personalities in the UT also.
“Amit Shah will visit different areas in this visit and this is a special occasion just like a festival as he was the key person to abrogate the controversial Articles 370 & 35(A) to free the people of J&K from decades long bondage. “SCs, women, Gujjars-Bakkerwals and other communities were empowered after being neglected for 70 years”.
Ravinder Raina said that people from Rajouri, Poonch, Mendhar, Surankote, Matargote, Rajouri, Thannamandi, Darhal, Budhal, Nowshera, Sunderbani, Kalakote, Dhangri, Doongi and other border areas will attend Amit Shah’s rally at Bus Stand Ground, Rajouri.
He said that in Baramulla of North Kashmir, people from Baramulla, Kupwara and Bandipora districts including areas of Gurez, Bandipora, Karnah, Kandhal, Kithwal, Trigam, Uri, Rafiabad, Handwara and Langate will participate in mega rally of Home Minister, Amit Shah.
“The residents of border areas were raising demand for the rallies of Amit Shah and he responded to our request for both the rallies,” said Raina.
Kavinder Gupta, former Deputy Chief Minister, Ghulam Ali Khatana, MP (Rajya Sabha), Yudhvir Sethi, vice-president BJP, Dr. Devinder Kumar Manyal, general secretary and Bharat Bhushan, DDC Chairperson were present during press conference.