Excelsior Correspondent
DODA, Apr 13: Vowing to foil the attempts of divisive forces in weakening the time tested unity of people in Jammu and Kashmir, senior National Conference leaders Devender Singh Rana and Ajay Sadhotra on Sunday described the ongoing Lok Sabha elections crucial for retaining secular ethos and further promoting the spirit of brotherhood.
“Time has come when people have to make a decisive choice between fascists and those believing in oneness and secular character of the society that encompasses the aspirations of all, irrespective of region, religion or caste”, the Provincial President Rana said while addressing election meetings at various places in the Doda Assembly Constituency.
He lauded the resilience of people; especially those living in remote and far off areas, for eschewing tendencies of hate being preached and practiced by peace-inimical elements under the garb of religion and said open mass defiance to radical diktat has shrunk the political space of reactionary forces.
In a scathing attack on BJP for spearheading the campaign of intolerance and hatred by resorting to deceit and falsehood, Mr Rana said their hidden agenda of bringing the people eyeball to eyeball situation stands exposed. “In Jammu and Kashmir, such an agenda has no relevance as the people have demonstrated their preference for amity and tranquility even during most testing times”, he said, hoping that this tradition will always remain the unique feature of the State’s pluralistic ethos.
Predicting no role for BJP in the State politics, the Provincial President described its accidental growth in 2008 as an offshoot of hysteria created on the issue of Amarnath land row agitation in active connivance with People’s Democratic Party. He said the people of the Jammu region had to pay dearly as 11 members of BJP remained engaged in furthering their personal agenda instead of representing their constituencies.
“BJP’s performance in 2008 proved as monsoon bubble which burst with a slight jerk”, he said while hoping the people to make a conscious decision this time while sending their representative to Parliament. He referred to the multi-faceted persona of Ghulam Nabi Azad, saying his election to Parliament is guarantee for the development of this entire region.
Speaking on the occasion, Minister for Planning and Development Ajay Sadhotra took BJP-PDP head on for pursuing opportunistic politics, saying the latter has been playing the role of facilitator for saffron candidates by engineering split in the secular votes.
“This ugly facet of PDP became known to the people the day it made its intentions known by fielding the candidates for the two constituencies”, Mr Sadhotra said, adding that the sagacious electors are determined to teach the combine a befitting lesson by power of their votes.
The Minister said that divisive politics has cost the people of the State dearly and they cannot afford continuation of hate mongering anymore. “We have been a forward looking and progressive state where provocations on communal or regional lines will boomerang and finish the political career of its perpetrators”, he said adding that annihilation of reactionary and opportunistic political entities is only a matter of time.
Former Minister and MLC, Khalid Najeeb Suharwardhy exuded confidence that given the enthusiasm across the constituency, the victory of the alliance candidate was certain. “The question is not about Mr Azad’s victory; it is all about the margin he will establish over his opponents”, he said.
Follow our WhatsApp channel