Parties spreading canards about BJP facing identity crisis: Dr Jitendra

Former president JK Panthers Party Balwant Singh Mankotia being presented a bouquet by Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh and BJP leaders Tarun Chugh and Ravinder Raina in New Delhi on Thursday.
Former president JK Panthers Party Balwant Singh Mankotia being presented a bouquet by Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh and BJP leaders Tarun Chugh and Ravinder Raina in New Delhi on Thursday.

Discernable change in J&K: Chugh

Avtar Bhat

JAMMU, Sept 29: While BJP national general secretary and Incharge J&K and Ladakh UTs, Tarun Chugh today claimed that there is a discernable change in J&K since August 5, 2019 after the annulling of controversial Articles 370 and 35 A, Union Minister in PMO with independent charge of Science and Technology, Dr Jitendra Singh said that those parties who were spreading canards that country will get divided if BJP comes to power have themselves got divided and fragmented into small groups.
The BJP leaders were speaking at a party programme in New Delhi during the joining of two times MLA from Udhampur and former president J&K Panthers Party, Balwant Singh Mankotia into BJP. The programme was also attended by Union Minister of State for Skill Development, Rajiv Chandrasekhar and J&K BJP president, Ravinder Raina.
Tarun Chugh, while welcoming Mankotia into BJP fold expressed the hope that it will help strengthening of party further in UT of J&K. He said with the annulling of Articles 370 and 35 A, J&K is treading fast on the path of progress and development. The people have developed a faith in the Modi Government, his pro public policies and programmes. Without naming anyone he said three families have grabbed power in the erstwhile State for decades together and mislead the people for their vested interests. He said they came to power with some thousand votes but the situation has now totally changed and in DDC elections alone 11 lakh people exercised their franchise in Kashmir Valley while the equal number of people voted in Jammu region in this election.
Chugh terming Mankotia a great leader who, according to him, was very close to founder of Panthers’ Party, Prof Brim Singh said “I am hopeful that he will take the mantra of PM Modi, ‘Sabka Saath, Vishwas and Priyas’ further ahead and strengthen the BJP in the UT”.
Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh, in his address, said that with the joining of leaders like Mankotia in BJP the opposition parties have been made ineffective in J&K now and he gave all credit to Tarun Chugh for that who, he said ,has not only quantitatively expanded BJP in J&K but qualitatively as well.
Dr Jitendra Singh, while taking a dig at Opposition parties who, he said, had spread canards all over country for decades together by misleading people that if BJP comes to power it will divide the country, said now the situation has taken such a turn that BJP is becoming more popular all over the country and those parties who had spread canards are now facing identity crisis.
He said though Mankotia was in other party but ideologically he was closer to BJP and he openly supported the Amarnath land row agitation of nationalist people. He said the BJP is a very strong cadre based organization which survived for over 60 years and it is becoming stronger day by day due to its pro-public polices and ideology.
He expressed the hope that with joining of Mankotia, the BJP will become more stronger in the UT.
MoS for Skill Development, Rajiv Chandershekhar said that PM Narendra Modi has set a new political discourse in the country. Under his eight year rule the country has not only moved ahead but he freed it from corrupt and dynastic rulers. He said BJP’s ideology is ‘Sabka Vikas and Sabka Saath’ and during last eight years of Modi Government party also created impact of its policy of Sabka Saath and Sabka Vikas in J&K.
He said Kashmiris now understand that previous generations lost opportunities and they are determined not to miss them once again and take full advantage of Modi Government policies and public welfare programmes.
He, while welcoming Mankotia in BJP family, said he is a dedicated social worker and ground level political leader whose joining will further strengthen the party in the UT.
BJP president, Ravinder Raina said that today lotus is blooming in entire country including J&K and credit for this goes to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah. The entire security scenario in J&K has changed under Modi Government and now peace and brotherhood prevails all over UT, he added.
He said Mankootia’s joining the party is a significant development and party will take full advantage of his abilities.
Balwant Singh Mankotia while speaking said he thinks himself fortunate to be the member of largest party of the country. He said there are many reasons for him to join BJP but the turning point was Modi Government’s decision to announce September 23 –the birthday of Maharaja Hari Singh as a gazetted holiday.
Terming it a significant decision, he said it is not because Hari Singh was Maharaja of the erstwhile undivided State of J&K but it was because of his farsightedness that he did not withstood the pressure of joining Pakistan and took a bold decision of acceding to India. “Had Maharaja not taken such a bold decision, the situation of the people of J&K would have been pathetic at present”, he added.
Mankotia said, moreover, to fulfill the dream of his mentor and founder of Panthers Party, Prof. Bhim Singh who wanted liberation of PoJK and other portion of undivided J&K which is under occupation of China, he thought that this dream can be only fulfilled by strengthening BJP.