SRINAGAR: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national president Nitin Nabin on Monday asserted that the party would eventually form a government in Jammu and Kashmir, saying the BJP’s organisational expansion in the Union Territory was steadily progressing and that the “lotus will bloom in Kashmir too.”
Addressing a party convention at Mishriwala on the outskirts of Jammu during his maiden visit to Jammu and Kashmir after assuming charge as the BJP chief, Nabin said the party was committed to strengthening its grassroots presence and expanding its support base across both the Jammu and Kashmir regions.
“The day is not far when Jammu and Kashmir will also have a BJP government. Like Jammu, the lotus will bloom in Kashmir too,” Nabin said while addressing party workers.
His two-day visit coincided with the conclusion of the nationwide Syama Prasad Mookerjee Pakhwada, observed from June 23 to July 6 to mark the birth anniversary of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh founder.
Paying tributes to Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee, Nabin said the BJP-led Union government had fulfilled his vision by abrogating Articles 370 and 35A on August 5, 2019.
He described the constitutional changes as a historic turning point for Jammu and Kashmir, claiming they had brought “real freedom” and fully integrated the region with the rest of the country.
“We succeeded in freeing Jammu and Kashmir from Article 370, which has become a major catalyst for change in the lives of the people here,” he later told reporters.
Drawing a comparison with the pre-2019 situation, Nabin said Jammu and Kashmir was now identified with peace, development and its cultural heritage rather than conflict.
“Today, Jammu and Kashmir is seen as an integral part of India and as a region moving on the path of development, identified with peace and its rich cultural heritage,” he said.
Recalling his participation in the BJP’s 2011 Rashtriya Ekta Yatra, Nabin said the party had then faced resistance over its plan to hoist the national flag at Srinagar’s Lal Chowk.
“Today, the national tricolour flies proudly at Lal Chowk. Many people ask what has changed in Jammu and Kashmir, and I tell them a lot has changed,” he said.
The BJP chief also claimed that incidents of separatist activity, strikes and stone-pelting had declined, and that the region was witnessing a peaceful atmosphere conducive to development and tourism.
He said the Centre had taken several initiatives to strengthen infrastructure, generate employment, promote tourism and revive Jammu and Kashmir’s cultural heritage.
Highlighting the role of youth, Nabin said young people from the Union Territory were now making their mark in sports and other fields.
“The youth of Jammu and Kashmir are creating their own identity through hard work and determination,” he said.
He also credited the Narendra Modi government with empowering women and economically weaker sections through welfare schemes, saying these measures had enhanced dignity and opportunities across society.
Launching a political attack on the Congress, Nabin alleged that previous governments had neglected Jammu and Kashmir’s development and had pursued divisive politics. He maintained that Article 370 had become “history” and reiterated the BJP’s stand that its restoration was not possible.
Turning to organisational matters, Nabin asked party workers to intensify public outreach and ensure that the benefits of Central government schemes reached every household. He urged the cadre to maintain regular contact with people and strengthen the BJP’s presence across the Union Territory.
During his visit, Nabin also chaired meetings with the BJP’s office-bearers and core group to review the party’s organisational strategy and assess the political situation in Jammu and Kashmir.
The meetings were attended by Union Minister Jitendra Singh, BJP national general secretary Tarun Chugh, JK BJP president Sat Sharma, Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma, MPs Jugal Kishore Sharma and Ghulam Ali Khatana, former Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh and other senior party leaders.
Addressing the organisational meetings, Nabin said the BJP had built a strong base in Jammu and called upon party leaders to expand the organisation further in both Jammu and Kashmir through continuous public engagement.
He also visited the historic Raghunath Temple in Jammu and offered prayers.
According to media reports, Nabin curtailed part of his scheduled programme and returned to New Delhi after cancelling his proposed visit to the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine due to urgent party engagements.
