Those misleading people on restoration of 370 living in fool’s paradise: Thakur

BJP national leaders Tarun Chug, MoS Anurag Thakur and Shahnawaz Hussain at an election rally in Budgam on Saturday. -Excelsior/Shakeel
BJP national leaders Tarun Chug, MoS Anurag Thakur and Shahnawaz Hussain at an election rally in Budgam on Saturday. -Excelsior/Shakeel

BJP’s mission to hoist tricolor in PoK: Chug

Avtar Bhat

JAMMU/SRINAGAR, Dec 12: Maintaining that the District Development Council (DDC) and Panchayat elections will empower people in J&K, Union Minister of State for Finance & Corporate Affairs and Incharge DDC elections in the UT, Anurag Singh Thakur today made it clear that Articles 370 and 35-A have gone permanently and those who are misleading the people on their restoration are living in fool’s paradise.
Addressing a mammoth election rally at Bus Stand Budgam in Central Kashmir along with BJP national spokesperson and former Minister, Shahnawaz Hussain and party national general secretary Incharge J&K Tarun Chug, Thakur said there will be a tremendous change on all fronts in the UT now.
Earlier, budget was passed by J&K Government and now DDC candidates will finalize it and work for the progress and development in their respective areas, he added.
“Now common people are empowered by Narendra Modi Government who were suppressed during the past 70 years in the region. Three-tier system of democracy was not functioning well in J&K,” he added.
Singh said now roads will be constructed, schools and hospitals will be build and everything will be decided by these DDC members and committee who are being elected by people from their own areas.
Making a scathing attack on separatists, he said “some vested elements were creating fear and panic among people if they will vote during elections they will be targeted by bullets and grenades but people have sent a clear message to the world as they believe in Indian democracy,” he added.
He said people of Jammu and Kashmir want peace and progress in the region and they are against any kind of violence.
“People want young leaders and have rejected the traditional, dynastical politics of Muftis and Abdullahs as they have exploited the Jammu and Kashmir from the past 70 years,” he said.
Lambasting the dynastic parties, he said they are the same people who sent their children to foreign countries for luxuries life-style and compelled the youth of Kashmir for throwing stones, spreading separatism and promote terrorism in the region.
Thakur said the life of common Kashmiris were made hell by these so-called leaders but Narendra Modi Government’s decision came as a hope for youth of the Valley.
He said they are hopeful that new faces will develop Kashmir like other regions.
“Despite ruling JK for more than 70 years, Gupkar Gang leaders could not develop basic amenities. Even in the 21st century, our mothers and daughters have to travel for kilometers for drinking water and similarly electricity, healthcare and education sectors were also neglected,” he said.
Thakur said they have to answer all these things and as they have deceived people over these decades and built their properties.
“In next four years, the people of Valley will be provided clean water to doorsteps, electricity infrastructure will be upgraded and other things will be done by Central Government,” he said.
Singh said all claims of the Roshni Act turned fake. They claimed that there will be free electricity and employment to youth by developing hydro projects and others claims,” he added.
He said “Both Abdullahs and Muftis exploited the resources of Jammu and Kashmir. But now all has been changed and Modi Government has provided health insurance cover of Rs five lakh , food to every citizen during COVID-19 and no one died of hunger throughout the country,” he added.
He said people of Kashmir have played an important role in participating in the elections and sent a strong message to everyone.
On the occasion, BJP senior leader and national spokesman Syed Shahnawaz Hussain said BJP is committed to the development and Gupkaris have created mistrust among the people.
“People are voting for development and have rejected the traditional parties who deceived them over the past seven decades. It is unfortunate that Gupkar Alliance leaders are misleading people on fake promises,” he added.
Hussain said the party is committed to development and people will see dawn of development in upcoming years. “BJP is serious about DDC and Panchayat elections and will win a majority of seats,” he added.
He said it is positive that there is a lot of enthusiasm among the youth in Kashmir during the ongoing elections and despite pressure from separatists and militant groups people are coming forward.
“People are supporting change and we hope that BJP will win majority of seats in Jammu and Kashmir,” Hussain said.
Addressing the gathering, national general secretary and Incharge J&K and Ladakh, Tarun Chugh appealed to people to vote for BJP candidates and negate the opportunist political fringe groups and teach them a life-time lesson.
“The youth of Kashmir gave so much love and they have developed such a trust in Narendra Modi that there was heavy turnout of votes in the last five phases. Now Jammu and Kashmir will also move forward and will continue to grow,” he added.
Challenging the Abdullah and Mufti dynasties from the land of Central Kashmir, Chug said that there will be no talk on Articles 370 and 35A, as BJP Government’s another mission is to hoist the Tricolor in Muzaffarabad in PoK under the leadership of Narendra Modi.
Earlier talking to reporters at Srinagar, Thakur said that the democracy has won in Jammu and Kashmir after seven decades as it was evident that people of J&K are choosing ballot over guns.
He said that the region is witnessing the victory of democracy as people are preferring ballot over guns and bullets.
“Long queues that we witness during the elections is a sign that democracy has won in J&K; the people have defeated the dynasty leaders who ruled J&K and looted the resources of people,” he said.
He said that the Gupkar Alliance first said that they will stay away from the polls, “but due to people’s pressure and the pro-election mood on the ground, they were forced to fight the polls,” he said.
He said that these leaders will face defeat and that the BJP will emerge victorious.
Thakur said that the abrogation of 370 and 35-A has initiated a process of development in J&K and it is a fact that from last more than one year not a single stone pelting incident has been reported from Kashmir. He emphasised that 250 militants have been killed since abrogation of Article 370.
He said that it is due to the abrogation of 370 that people like Schedule Castes , Schedule Tribes, Valmikis and West Pakistan Refugees (WPRs) are getting their rights. “People in Kashmir are reposing trust and faith in us,” he said.
He added that the Centre will be pumping more money into J&K for its development and the region will touch new heights.
“There is no dearth of funds for J&K; we will be giving more than the previous budgetary allocations for the development of UT,” he said.
Regarding the Roshni Act, Thakur said: “The scheme was launched in order to help bigwigs. The HC has taken an initiative of retrieving 3.4 lakh Kanals of land allotted under Scheme. There will be strict action against those involved in the corruption,” he said.