Vajpayee’s 3 ‘Mantras’ only solution to Kashmir
BJP calls for debate on Art 370, says it has only harmed State
Gender bias, discrimination, corruption rule the roost
Sanjeev Pargal/Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, Dec 1: BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate and Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi today favoured former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee’s doctrine on Kashmir saying every solution was based on three ‘Mantras’ of ‘Insaniyat (humanity), Zamhooriyat (democracy) and Kashmiriyat’ (composite with secular Kashmiri culture) and declared that instead of separate (independent) State as being asked by the separatists and ‘beggar State’, made by the State Government, the BJP would make Jammu and Kashmir a super State and better State.
Addressing the historic ‘Lalkar Rally’ here this afternoon, attended by nearly one lakh people at MA Stadium, which was the biggest ever rally in both pre and post independence eras, according to observers, Modi, in his 45 minutes speech challenged the proponents of Article 370 of the Constitution of India, giving special status to the State, for a debate on whether the Article has benefited or harmed the State.
Modi took on Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, without naming him, saying the State was rooted knee deep in corruption and made virtually a ‘beggar State’, which had to depend on the Centre for every problem. “Whether its winter or summer, the rulers of the State are busy in foreign jaunts. Tourism of Jammu and Kashmir has diverted to Himachal Pradesh. Even J&K hasn’t been able to open a single IIT or IIM, which small States like Himachal and Assam have been able to get,’’ he said amidst huge applause from the crowd chanting ‘Modi-Modi’.
Charging the State with encouraging gender bias, Modi said the rights Omar enjoyed in the State, were lost by his sister Sara the day he was married outside the State. “This is sorry state of affairs,’’ he lamented.
Such was the massive enthusiasm among the people for Modi that the people braved all obstructions put in on roads by the administration “at the behest of Government” to reach to the rally venue. Even the roads, which were not connected to MA Stadium, the venue of rally, had been barricaded intentionally to stop huge flow of people for the rally.
Though the authorities had made tight security arrangements for the rally venue blocking traffic movement on Tawi bridge and Fly Over as announced earlier, they had blocked even far off roads by putting up concertina wire to stop vehicular movement and prevent the people from reaching the rally venue to sabotage it.
Despite this, the people were seen walking several kilometers to see and listen to Modi. By the time, Modi reached the rally venue at 1 pm along with party president Rajnath Singh, the crowd had swelled to nearly one lakh and still thousands of people were left outside unable to gain entry inside as the Stadium was packed to capacity.
There was massive voluntarily participation of the people in the rally. Though a large number of BJP workers drawn from entire State including Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh regions were present in the rally, there was huge voluntarily participation of the citizens, who had come on their own to see and listen to the BJP Prime Ministerial candidate.
“We braved all odds the Government and the administration had put in on the road. Though security was necessary, police had placed concertina even on the roads, where it was not required. It took us two hours to reach MA Stadium from Gangyal,’’ said a group of youth inside the MA Stadium.
The elderly people were of the view that they have never seen such a jam packed stadium and the people waiting outside in any political rally. It was only in 1980 or 1981 that the stadium witnessed huge rush during Dara Singh’s wrestling, which was a sporting and not political event.
The observers were of the view that the rally would have surpassed two to three lakh had the administration not put hurdles in smooth movement of traffic.
Responding to the response Modi got in the rally, he said: “I have worked here extensively. No leader has had the honour to witness such a sight like today. The scene I’m witnessing has never been seen in Jammu and Kashmir by any leader’’.
Noting that Atal Behari Vajpayee was the first Prime Minister to visit Kashmir in nearly 14 years during his tenure, Modi said Vajpayee had given three ‘Mantras’ for solution to every problem ‘Insaniyat, Zamhooriyat and Kashmiriyat’, which were relevant even today.
Pointing to threat perception in the country from China, Modi said there had been reports that China was distributing free SIM cards and mobile telephones to the people living along the border areas in Ladakh. “These SIM cards were taking signals from Chinese mobile companies, which has become a major security risk. Our Government is not worried about this security threat. What the Telecom Ministry is doing about this?’’ he asked.
He said: “I salute the people of Demchok in Leh, who hoisted tricolor along the LAC with China on August 15, 2013 despite all odds. This brave act of the people is much above the tricolor hosted at Lal Qila’’.
Calling for debate on Article 370 of the Constitution of India that grants special status to the State, Modi said the time has now come to see whether this Article should remain or not and whether this Article has benefited or harmed the State.
He said only 50 odd families in Jammu and Kashmir have benefited due to Article 370 and demand for separation while rest of the people of the State have been plunged into darkness.
“This politics of discrimination must end. Either some region or some community is treated with injustice. Speak in one voice and you will see neither the State nor the Centre can suppress your voice.’’
Asserting that he agreed with Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh that the BJP should fulfill the promises it was making to the people, Modi said the Congress should also fulfill the promise made by first Prime Minister of the country Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru made in the Parliament that “Article 370 will die its own death’’.
Referring to drawbacks the Article 370 had, the BJP leaders said it was due to this Article that the State Government was refusing to implement 73rd and 74th amendment of the Constitution of India.
Without naming Omar or his National Conference, the BJP Prime Ministerial candidate said those giving statement on autonomy sitting in their bungalows in Srinagar should first give powers to Panchayats, Nagar Palikas and Villages. “These bodies either didn’t exist in Jammu or have no rights. Isn’t it the double speak? Shouldn’t the common man get the rights the people of India enjoyed?’’ he asked the huge crowd and got the massive response “Yes, Yes’’.
Modi sought the vote from public gathering on various issues and every time, there was massive response in his favour. The crowd continued to chant ‘Modi, Modi’. He said SCs, ST, OBCs and Dalits have been deprived of their privileges in J&K.
Noting that there was massive corruption in Jammu and Kashmir and the Government and its leaders were knee deep in corruption, Modi again asked the crowd whether he was right or not. “Bahut Hai (there is massive corruption)’’, “ Sab Chor Hain (all are thieves),’’ responded the crowd with clapping, shouting and hooting.
He said the State Government didn’t want to be accountable and responsible and that was why it hasn’t enacted tougher laws against corruption.
Asserting that men and women enjoyed equal rights in entire India excepting Jammu and Kashmir, Modi said this gender bias also originated from Article 370.
“There should be no discrimination between Hindus and Muslims, no discrimination between men and women but this is happening in Jammu and Kashmir. The rights Chief Minister Omar Abdullah enjoyed in the form of State subject, his sister Sara didn’t when she is married outside the State. When a girl from Jammu and Kashmir is married outside, she loses all rights. The State should learn to respect its daughters. The world is talking of gender equality while in J&K, there is sheer gender bias,’’ Modi lamented amidst the slogans of ‘shame, shame’ from the crowd especially the women.
“The Acts that Congress is taking credit for, are they being implemented in J&K? Rights that Dalits, Tribals get, should not the people of J&K get. Why is it not happening? Country is angry over corruption. Is there not rampant corruption in J&K? Should corruption prevention law be there for J&K or not. Only 50 families have gained if you look back in history. Rest of the Kashmir has been ignored,’’ he said.
“For 60 years they talked about separate State (autonomy) but what did people get? Nothing and there is no accountability also…. In the name of separate state, they encouraged separatism.
“It would have been better if they focused on creating a super State,” the BJP Prime Ministerial candidate said.
Noting that there is respect for former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee in the hearts of people of the State, Modi recalled that he had told them that the mantra of “Insaniyat (humanity), Zamhooriyat (democracy), Kashmiriyat” needs to be followed on Jammu and Kashmir.
“The rulers here developed a habit of begging before New Delhi. They know well that there will be no accountability fixed for the money they loot here,” he said
He further said “they have portrayed such a picture of J&K that it would never be self-reliant…. They have labeled Jammu and Kashmir as a beggar but Jammu and Kashmir is not a beggar… They don’t want Jammu and Kashmir to be strong. They want it to be a beggar but the State will prove it is a better State and not a beggar State.”
“I have come to you to remove this bad name given to J&K. We have to move towards betterment in coming days,” he said.
“The Government has only one mantra, which is development for all. I am challenging those in power from this stage. Can’t an IIM and IIT be set up in Jammu and Kashmir when they have been set up in small States like Himachal Pradesh and Assam?
“Why not a road to Kailash Mansarovar is laid through Leh? Nepal is reaping the benefits now. Why can’t J&K benefit?”
“J&K had been a popular venue for film shooting. Why didn’t the Indian Government focus on J&K during the 100th year of Indian cinema. There could be a film institute here. Can’t J&K be made an improved State by boosting the tourism and herbal medicine industry?” Modi asked as crowd burst into jubilation chanting `Modi, Modi’.
“It would have been better had the rulers of J&K dreamt of creating a super State instead of propagating the politics of separate State— there is a need of the time to decide whether you need a separate State or a super State”, Modi said.
Modi also hit out at what he called the “politics of discrimination”.
“Why has there been discrimination with Kargil when there is development in Srinagar and Jammu. There is discrimination with women, there is a discrimination with backwards, there is a discrimination with Scheduled Tribes regions. The politics of discrimination in Jammu and Kashmir has to end.
“I want to challenge those who are advocating secularism. Let them put to test my governance in the yardstick of secularism. If they have courage they should accept the truth, Modi thundered with crowds raising both hands in his support.”
“Our mantra for governance is that Government has no religion. Government’s first religion is India. The country’s only religious text is the Constitution of India. Government’s only devotion is devotion towards India, only prayers is the people’s welfare, only work is development and only power the 125 crore people of the country.”
Referring to Sarabjit Singh and Chamel Singh, who were brutally assaulted and murdered in Pakistani prisons, he said the Centre is not bothered even when its own people are getting killed.
“The Centre is sleeping and it will continue to do so in 2014.”
On a more personal note, Modi said he had a “very close relationship” with Jammu and Kashmir.
“Someone gave me a 25-year-old picture. It refreshed old memories,” he told the audience.
The BJP Prime Ministerial candidate said he was not here to play the politics of dividing the people but to unite them. “I’m here to unite the people, the Hindus and Muslims, the people of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh but I has to say that this Government has been discriminating with Jammu and Ladakh region and within Ladakh, it was discriminating with Shias in Kargil. This can’t be tolerated. This discrimination has to go,’’ he thundered.
“I am not talking about Hindus or Muslims I am talking about the people of J&K. Development comes when there is integration.’’
Ridiculing the demand of separatists for separate (independent) State, Modi declared that not separate but the BJP would make Jammu and Kashmir a ‘Super State’. Again, he asked the public whether they want separate or ‘Super State’, there was massive response from the crowd packed with the people, which yelled ‘Super State, Super State’.
Charging the State Government with ‘looting khazana’ (the State exchequer) provided by the Centre, he charged the Government with making it a ‘beggar State’ by approaching the Government of India every time with a begging bowl, Modi again declared that the BJP would make it a ‘better State’.
“Do you want a ‘beggar State or a better State’? he asked the public. Pat came the reply with thundering response: ‘better State, better State’.
He said the rulers of Jammu and Kashmir have developed a habit of approaching the Centre with a begging bowl, which should be done away with and the State should be made self-dependent like Gujarat. Instead, he regretted, the rulers have been presenting a bad picture of the State before the Centre that it can’t stand on its own.
“Jammu Kashmir Bhikhari Nahin Hai. Yeh Desh Ke Liye Marne Wali Jamaat Hai. Beggar days are over…we now need to move towards better days,’’ he said.
Without naming Omar Abdullah, Modi charged the rulers of the State with having developed a habit of foreign jaunts—be it summer or winter. “They (the rulers of J&K) neither liked winter nor summer of Jammu and Kashmir’’.
Lavishing praises on former Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir—Hari Singh, Modi said: “had he (Hari Singh) been in Jammu and Kashmir after independence, the State shouldn’t have seen the bad days. It was far sightedness of Hari Singh that he acceded to India. He was a great social reformer, who worked for female education and opposed untouchability. He opened doors of the temples for Dalits. However, due to political selfishness, the State has forgotten him’’.
Modi said: “ I remember Maharaja Hari Singh today. If he was in mainstream of decision making after 1947 things would have been different’’.
He said the history has proved that thinking of Shyama Prasad Mookerjee on Jammu and Kashmir was right and not that of Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru. He also lauded the political figures including Pandit Prem Nath Dogra, Tika Lal Taploo and martyrs like Brig Rajinder Singh, Major Som Nath Sharma, Colonel Rinchen, Maqboor Sherwani and Abdul Hamid.
He said the country would never forget the sacrifices given by security forces and people of the State to defeat militancy.
Charging the UPA Government at Centre with sleeping when inflation, militancy and unemployment have gripped the country, Modi said they would continued to sleep till 2014 elections as they have been left with no hope of life.
“Had the Government been awake, it wouldn’t have allowed the killing of Sarabjit Singh in Pakistan jail after Chamel Singh of Jammu had been killed in the same jail some time back,’’ he said.
According to him, the Congress has developed a new ‘jhari bhooti’ (herbal medicine) of secularism to wash its all sins of responsibility and accountability. “It has become a fashion with the Congress Government to chant the slogan of secularism to escape all responsibilities,’’ he said.
Lauding the Gujjars, he said when he was Incharge of Jammu and Kashmir as BJP general secretary, the Gujjars had been telling him that they had close relationship with him as their elders might have got the title of Gujjars from Gujarat. He said the Government should give due rights to Gujjars. A large number of Gujjars attended the rally.
Meanwhile, BJP today asked the UPA government to table in Parliament during its forthcoming winter session the Border Defence Agreement Cooperation signed with China by Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh in Beijing in October.
Addressing the gathering prior to the address of Modi, BJP president Rajnath Singh also said that Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh did not think of taking Parliament into confidence before entering into the agreement.
“Recently Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh visited China where he signed the Border Defence Cooperation Agreement which has many controversial clauses. One clause, as I am made to understand, is that border forces of either country would not tail each other if they inadvertently entered each other’s territory,” he said.
“They (the UPA Government) did not take Parliament into confidence. Parliament session is starting from December 5. We will raise this question in the Parliament…The agreement with China should be tabled in Parliament,” Rajnath said.
The BJP leader also said India should issue stapled visas to Tibetans in response to China issuing such visas to those living in Arunachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir.
“If China says it will issue stapled visa to people of Arunachal Pradesh and J&K, the Prime Minister should tell China strongly that India will also issue stapled visas to people living in Tibet…This answer should be given to them,” Singh said.
Criticizing the stand taken by India during the incursion by Chinese troops into Indian territory, he said, “Chinese Army stayed in tents in Daulat Beg Oldie (DBO) sector in Leh for 21 days. I want to ask the Prime Minister and the External Affairs Minister why Chinese and Indian Army troops retreated? China had to leave as they had intruded into this side, but why Indian troops were forced to return from their own land? PM and External Affairs Minister should answer to people of India.”
“If the Chinese Army enters into Arunachal Pradesh during patrolling, we request them to please leave. Is this what we hope from our Army? They (Government) have created bad situation,” Rajnath Singh said.
“China’s state of mind is that sometimes it says Arunachal Pradesh is its part and also some part of Kashmir. They are issuing stapled visa for Arunachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir people,” he said, asking the Indian Government to adopt a tit-for-tat policy and issue stapled visas to Tibetans.
Rajnath lauded the courage displayed by 80 families of Damchuk in Leh for hoisting tricolor on LAC with China despite threats.
“The people of this country are so brave but the Prime Minister (Dr Manmohan Singh) is very weak,’’ he said.
Asserting that Congress has gone into depression due to rising popularity of Modi, he pointed out that large crowds in the rallies of Modi were likely to break Guinness Book of World Records.
“This has demoralized Congress, which has gone into depression. Rahul Gandhi is calling BJP poisonous and thief but he should remember that chances of theft lie with those ruling the country. We are protecting the Government money. We won’t allow any loot by the Government,’’ he declared.
He called upon the people to give all Lok Sabha seats of Jammu and Kashmir to Modi.
Lauding people of Jammu and Kashmir, Army and para-military forces for their contribution in containing militancy, he said it was during the tenure of Atal Behari Vajpayee that efforts were made to check militancy. He assured the people and security forces that their sacrifices wouldn’t go waste and the BJP would ensure complete finish of militancy in Jammu and Kashmir.
Again invoking the controversy of Pt Jawahar Lal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India and Sardar Patel, the first Home Minister of India, Rajnath said: “had Nehru not taken command of the country in his hands and given it to Patel, the state of affairs in Jammu and Kashmir would have been totally different’’.
Without naming Omar, Rajnath took strong exception to his previous statements on accession of India saying Jammu and Kashmir figures as State No. 15 in the Indian Constitution as integral part of India. Article 3 of Jammu and Kashmir Constitution also confirmed that J&K is an integral part of the country.
“Jammu and Kashmir was, is and will always remain an integral part of India,’’ he said.
Criticising ruling Congress, Singh said “the opponent is trying to create a sense of fear about Narendra Modi but BJP will try to create a sense of confidence to win hearts.”
“There were riots in Congress-ruled Gujarat and Assam in 1969 and 1983, respectively. Did Sonia Gandhi call the Chief Ministers of those States as merchants of death then?” he asked.
Referring to 24 vacant seats in J&K Assembly meant for candidates from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), he asked: “why so many seats are lying vacant in the State? They should be kept for refugees of PoK”.
He said when BJP comes to power at the Centre, it will formulate National Refugees Welfare and Rehabilitation policy.
“The people of Jammu and Kashmir should decide whether Article 370 of the Indian Constitution should be abolished,” he said.
Singh also took on the Centre over the killings of Sarpanchs in Jammu and Kashmir by the militants.
“It was due to the sacrifices of Shyama Prasad Mookerjee that myself and Modi have come here without permits,’’ he said.
Rajnath called for implementation of 73rd and 74th amendments of the Constitution of India. “How the State Government would strengthen the democracy in the absence of these two important amendments’’? he asked.
He also called for a debate on whether Article 370 of the Constitution of India has benefited or caused harm to the State of Jammu and Kashmir.
He promised that the BJP when voted to power will take all steps for rehabilitation of Kashmiri migrants.
Alleging that Congress Government has set new records of corruption and inflation, Rajnath Singh recalled that it was Vajpayee Government, which had kept the corruption completely under control.
He said he wanted to assure the people of Kashmir and send a message that the Muslims were fully safe under the leadership of Modi. “It was the Congress, which was trying to create fear of Modi, though just one unfortunate incident had taken place in 12 years when he was at the beginning of his tenure,’’ he added. He declared that India would be world power under the leadership of Modi.
Turning tables on State coalition Government, BJP MP and Incharge J&K Avinash Rai Khanna, addressing the rally, said that there is no account of huge funds received by State Government from Centre. The people of the State should seek a reply from Government where this money has gone and why the development could not take place in the State over these years, he said.
Expressing concern over the plight of refugees, he said, the Government till date has failed to address their problems. “What we have to do with that Government which attached tag of refugees with its people”, he added.
He said it is a pity that the people have to resort to protests for installing the statue of Bhanda Singh Bahadur on Kunjwani Chowk as the State Government is not interested in the same. Lambasting the coalition, he said it did not utter a word on killing of Chamel Singh, a resident of Pargwal area of Akhnoor tehsil in Pakistani jail whose only fault was that Jammu was his birth place.
Accusing the State Government of betraying the family of Chamel Singh, Khanna said the family was deprived of financial help as well as compensation by the State Government. He demanded that the State Government should pay Rs one crore to his family and make recommendation to Central Government to pay Rs 25 lakh in addition to this to the family.
Khanna said that J&K has multiple problems and the people are waiting for the day when Mr Modi will lead the Government at Centre to relieve the people of the State of these problems.
Decrying the role of then MoS Home in Kishtwar riots on the occasion of Eid, this year, he said it was the pressure exerted by BJP that the MoS Home had to resign. He claimed that BJP is receiving a good public response in the State and it will win four Lok Sabha seats in the next year elections.
Addressing the rally, BJP State president, Jugal Kishore Sharma said that BJP has always fought for the rights of the people in the State and it will continue to do the same in future. He held NC-Congress coalition in the State and UPA Government at Centre responsible for the continuous discrimination with the people of the State.
Expressing concern over price hike, he said it is difficult for a common man to have two times meal. He said Article 370 has given nothing to the State except unemployment. Highlighting the problems of West Pak and PoK refugees, Jugal said it is unfortunate that West Pak refugees are deprived of their right to vote.
He declared that BJP after coming to power at Centre will definitely start the work on Jammu -Poonch Railway Line.
Maintaining that the rally was a challenge to its opponents, BJP National Executive Member, Dr Nirmal Singh said Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah who had said that let Modi organise 500 people’s rally in Kashmir Valley should enquire from his security agencies that 5000 people from Kashmir Valley had come to attend his rally at Jammu.
He said those who call BJP a communal Party should themselves see that Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs in large numbers have joined the rally. He accused the Union Health Minister, Ghulam Nabi Azad of misleading the people of the State by making hollow promises to provide 80,000 jobs to them when elections have come near and said where was Mr Azad in last 10 years of UPA rule and why could not he take an initiative during these years in this regard.
Maintaining that a history has been created in Jammu today with such huge response given by the people to Mr Modi’s rally, Vibodh Gupta, BJP vice president said the enthusiasm among the people is a testimony to the fact that they want Modi as he is capable to give a new direction to the country. He lambasted Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah for challenging accession and said that he was exploiting the people by naming BJP a communal organization. The rally will certainly have an impact on State’s politics in the coming years, he added.
Maintaining that the rally is a Party’s Lalkar (challenge) to those who ruled the nation for 66 long years, BJP vice president Chander Parkash Ganga made a dig at Pt Jawahar Lal Nehru for ruining the country and dividing the J&K State. He also alleged that former Prime Minister, Mrs Indira Gandhi was responsible for terrorism in Punjab.
Former BJP president Shamsher Singh Manhas while criticizing Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah said that he has no time for the seven lakh unemployed youth in the State while he has enough time to attack the rally. This Government was a failure on all fronts and instead of solving the problems of masses this Government is busy in praising AICC chief Sonia Gandhi. He warned those responsible for price hike, corruption and threatening unity and integrity of the country will not be spared.
BJP general secretary Bali Bhagat alleged that the Government has no policy to fight the terror in the State. He accused the Government of sabotaging the rally be installing barriers on every route.
Another Party general secretary, and former Mayor Kavinder Gupta also took the State Government to task for the peoples problems and discrimination with the Jammu region. He said that Government in desperation was trying to sabotage the rally and people have frustrated its designs with their overwhelming support.
Thupstan Chhewang Ex-MP from Ladakh and senior BJP leader said that it is for the first time that any one from his region was allowed to take part in such a huge rally. He recalled the sacrifices of people of the State for the unity and integrity of the country whether it was in China’s aggression of 1962 or wars with Pakistan the people of J&K fought shoulder to shoulder along with army for protecting unity and integrity of the country and gladly laid down their lives for this noble cause.
G M Mir, vice president from Kashmir said entire nation is looking forward for Modi. He said the country is passing through crucial phase as the present Government is worthless which has pushed the nation into economic crisis due to its wrong policies.
Due to the wrong policies the nation is facing threat from both China and Pakistan and only Mr Modi can bring the country out of these crisis.
Sham Choudhary, MLA Suchet Garh held State Government responsible for the plight of border people. He said earlier the Government had announced to allot 10 marlas of land to border people in safer places and now it says that only five marlas will be allotted.
He said Mr Modi was only alternative to rid country from the scam tainted Government.
BJP secretary, Pawan Khajuria also took Government to task for imposing restrictions on the people to attend the rally. He said the people are fed up of corruption, unemployment and price rise gifted by UPA to people during its rule.
Besides BJP Mahila Morcha president, Priya Sethi also spoke on the occasion. BJP National general secretary J P Nadda, its Legislative Party Leader, Ashok Khajuria, National Executive member and chief spokesperson of the State, Dr Jitendra Singh, organisational general secretary, Ashok Kaul, general secretaries, Kavinder Gupta and Rajiv Jasrotia, Parshotam Didichi, vice presidents, Col (retd) Uttam Singh and Ramesh Arora, M L A Marh Sukhnandan were also on the dais.
Prominent among others who were present included Party Muslim Morcha chief Mushtaq Ahmed Noorabadi, senior leader, Sofi Yousf, Pawan Gupta, Chander Mohan Sharma, Sat Sharma (CA), Mamta Singh, Ghulam Ali Khatana, Dr Nirmal Kamal, Yudhvir Sethi, Aseem Gupta, Rajesh Gupta, Munish Sharma, Suresh Jamwal, Ch. Piara Singh, Karan Singh president Kissan Morcha, Bansi Lal Bharti, Balbir Ram Rattan, Surinder Bhagat, Dina Nath Bhagat, Kuldeep Raj Gupta.
Meanwhile BJP leaders from Leh unit submitted a memorandum to Narendra Modi highlighting the plight of the people living in the far flung Himalayan belt. The memorandum said all regions of the State are in perpetual turmoil. The violence in Kashmir Valley has already taken large number of lives and continues to pose a serious threat to peace and harmony all over.
It said the misfortune of Jammu and Ladakh regions are greater and their pent up emotions have burst into open. Yet they are ignored in the entire discourse involving the State which remains Kashmir centric.
It said the consequences is that the feeling runs high among the people of the two regions that they are second class citizens. It said the time is not far when they come to the conclusion that they must take a determined stance to get their rightful status within the Indian Union by redefining, if necessary the present boundary of the State.
The memorandum said often the people of these regions have to give up their idea of launching the agitation path for their rights in the wider national interests. The memorandum said that Ladakhis face total domination of Kashmiris in all affairs and they have been ignored altogether in all spheres of life. The Party’s Leh Unit expressed the hope that Ladakh region will get its due place under leadership of Mr Modi.
The signatories to the statement included Thupstan Chhewang Ex-MP, Lobzang Nyantak, Councilor LAHDC, Dorjey Motup, Councilor, LAHDC, Leh, Jamiang Tsering Namgyal, State spokesperson, Dorjey Angchuk, district president BJP Leh, Hyder Ali senior leader and Phuntsok Tundup, Sarpanch Halqa Panchayat Shey.
Earlier Mr Modi and Rajnath Singh were offered Dogra turban by BJP leaders Jugal Kishore Sharma and Ashok Khajuria respectively while Thupstan Chhewang and G A Mir offered a muffler to them. Parshotam Didichi offered a photograph of Mata Vaishno Devi while Kavinder Gupta, Rajiv Jasrotia and Balbir Ram offered a photo of Narendra Modi along with former BJP chief Dr Murli Manohar Joshi when they had unfurled National Flag at Lal Chowk, Srinagar in 1991. Another painting of Mr Modi made by Rohit of RS Pura was presented to him by Ashok Kaul on the occasion.
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