by Tasavur Mushtaq
SRINAGAR: As BJP chief Amit Shah reached Jammu on Saturday for a day-long trip and broke his silence on the party’s decision to pull out from the coalition government, he was all fire against the Mehbooba Mufti-led PDP- the alliance partner of BJP for over three years till June 19, 2018.
Shah who had come to participate in the function to mark the death anniversary of Bharatiya Jana Sangh founder Shyama Prasad Mookerjee accused PDP of ‘discrimination’ and said , “the party (PDP) was not interested in sharing resources for the Jammu and Ladakh regions announced under Rs 80,000-crore Prime Minister package”.
Reaching out to the core constituency of right wingers, Shah said the BJP could not be the part of any such government which discriminated against regions while implementing developmental plans and failed to restore peace on the ground.
The much-talked Agenda of Alliance was not mentioned by Shah at all. He, however, said: “We had three main promises when we formed the government which included balanced development in three regions, maintaining peace by eliminating terror and Jammu-Kashmir to remain an integral part of India”, adding “Modiji gave so much of money. But still the promises were not fulfilled.”
Ami Shah attacked PDP for ignoring the interests of Jammu and Ladakh. “The PDP-led government ignored the interests of Jammu and Ladakh. The development in both these regions, which voted overwhelmingly for the BJP during the last parliamentary and Assembly polls, lagged. So we decided to quit the government,” Shah said, while ignoring the fact of being in the power and working as equal partners.
Trying to hit the chord, Shah said, “I had decided to speak about the party’s decision on the break-up only in front of Jammu people who have voted for us in the last parliamentary and Assembly elections.”
Giving details of the PM’s package, he said “The Modi-led government announced Rs 80,000-crore development package for the three regions of the state. About Rs 61,000 crore was even released for 63 projects but not even a single project was undertaken in Jammu and the future of Jammu’s children was being played with as five medical colleges were to be established in Jammu and Kashmir, of which three were in Jammu. In all other places, academic sessions have started, but the formalities of the colleges in the Jammu region are yet to be completed and another academic session of educated youth was spoiled”.
“If this is happening while we are in the government then it’s better to be in the opposition,” he added.
Blaming Mehbooba Mufti-led PDP of deteriorating situation, Shah said, “Peace was not restored and a situation came that army jawan Aurangzeb was kidnapped and killed. A journalist and editor were killed. Pressure groups stood up and didn’t let the govt to work,” and added that “India is a democracy and everyone has the right to write. If editors are killed, army jawans are killed, if Jammu is not developed then we don’t have the right to stay in power.”
While listing out the efforts of central government and castigating the state government of which BJP was a part, Shah said, “Jammu could not be developed even after sanctioning of Rs 80,000 crore and Chennai Nashri tunnel was completed by Modi Ji.”
Hitting hard, Shah said “ring road for Jammu and Srinagar and AIIMS for Jammu and Srinagar were planned, but PDP government did not acquire land in Jammu and ‘Pakistani refugees were given Rs 2000 crore package but unfortunately the state government gave them only Rs 500 crore.”
Aiming to reach Gujjar and Bakerwal community, Shah said: “Gujjars and Bakarwals who are nationalists were not given reservation. Smart city work could not be completed.”
Shah’s speech was clear in reviving the pre-2014 debate of BJP as he said that “state government did not register the migrants from West Pakistan. And they have to get 5.5 lakh of compensation and Dalits were not given certificate.”
Shah mentioned the Pandits as well, “For rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pundits nothing was done. They were forced to leave and have become refugees in their own country. Rajnath Singh Ji was here and Rs 400 crore has been sanctioned for the construction of bunkers on borders. Delimitation was also part of CMP. But no progress was made on it.”
Apart from its coalition partner of over three years, Shah attacked National Conference as well. He accused both the parties of corruption. “These two families have run the government and they are indulged in corruption. We want development for the state of Jammu and Kashmir. And, the people should expect the JK to developed at par with the other states.”
