Mookerjee was inspiration for lakhs of BJP workers’
Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, July 6: BJP national president, Nitin Nabin today said that people of Jammu and Kashmir got freedom in real sense on August 5 in 2019 after his party Government led by Narendra Modi annulled the controversial Article 370 and 35 A.
Addressing a party Sammelan at Grand Majestic, Mishriwala near here held in connection with concluding function of fortnight long Pakhwada of Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee which countrywide started on his death anniversary on June 23 and culminated on his birthday today, he said by annulling Article 370 and 35 A, the Modi Government fulfilled the dream of the founder president of Bharatiya Jana Sangh (BJP), Dr Sayama Prasad Mookerjee who laid down his life on the soil of J&K for the total integration of the erstwhile State with a Indian Union.
While paying glowing tribute to Dr Mookerjee he described him architect of Ek Nishan, Ek Pradhan and Ek Vidhan (One Flag, one President and one Constitution) for which he laid down his life.
“I am present at the land which saw sacrifice of our leader, Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee. I salute him and pay my tribute to him. Everyone among you has fought to fulfill his dream, I am so happy to be here and I also salute you also,’’ Nabin said.
He said “Jammu and Kashmir is the land of sacrifices,. Here we have the blessings of Mata Vaishno Devi, who always showers her blessings on us.’’
“I also pay my tribute to all war heroes hailing from Jammu and Kashmir. They fought to protect our nation and our land’’, he added. While paying his special tribute to people of Jammu, he said Jammu is the land of Dogra warriors.
The BJP national president said late Dr Syama Prasad Mookherjee is an inspiration for lakhs of BJP workers who tirelessly work to strengthen the party.
“People of Jammu and Kashmir can never forget sacrifices of our leader Dr Mookerjee. Credit goes to our PM Narendra Modi who fulfilled dream of this great leader by ensuring Ek Vidhan, Ek Nishan and EK Pradhan,’’ he said, adding in 2011, we decided to take out a rally up to Kashmir but the Congress which was in power at that time opposed the move. This was situation in J&K prior to scrapping of Article 370."
Maintaining that huge change has taken place in Jammu and Kashmir in last few years, he said Now Tiranga is seen everywhere, even in Lal Chowk of Srinagar. Now everyone in Jammu and Kashmir is witnessing a huge positive change “There is no separatist movement and stone pelting or strikes are the things of past,’’ he said. The people of Jammu and Kashmir are now feeling a huge change and credit for it goes to PM Narendra Modi, he added.
“Today everyone in Jammu and Kashmir is marching ahead under peace and progressive atmosphere. Now everyone in country sees a change in Jammu and Kashmir. You all have fought for restoration of dignity and honour of the people of the UT,’’ he added.
Launching a scathing attack on Congress, he said the party has always played negative politics. “Congress has always supported anti national elements while PM Modi has always backed people of Jammu and Kashmir to lead a better and dignified life.’’
He said nation can never forget great personalities and nationalists like Dr Shyama Prasad Mookerjee who worked hard for national cause and laid down his life for the same. “Today is 125th birth anniversary of this great leader and visionary,. The concept like Make in India was actually his concept. Mookerjee also played role in protecting West Bengal during the time of partition’’, he added.
Maintaining that BJP activists have worked hard in Jammu and Kashmir, he said still more hard work is needed to get the target fulfilled in J&K.
He said “People of J&K were deprived of development and progress,. Many sections were deprived of genuine rights. But now the PM has ensured that all get justice and yield fruits of peace and progress.’’
Nabin said the nation is progressing leaps and bounds under Modi. “Our economy is now stable, many steps have been taken to generate employment,’’ he added.
The BJP president said PM has changed whole pattern and now Jammu and Kashmir is marching towards path of development, peace and progress. Modi Government has ensured protection of borders and upliftment of border people, he added.
“Our borders are now safe and secure PM has taken many major steps which have totally changed the situation in Jammu and Kashmir. Earlier people were scared of visiting J&K but now situation is altogether different," he added.
The BJP president said many steps have been taken to curb corruption and now roads are being constructed, airports are upgraded and all sectors are being given attention for development.
Making a scathing attack on Omar Abdullah Government, he accused it of adopting discriminatory attitude towards Jammu. “I want to tell people of Kashmir that our Government is committed for welfare of all including Kashmiri people. We don’t play religious politics. We want progress of all’’, he added
Asking party cadre to work more hard and ensure BJP strengthens further in UT in coming days, he said, “We have to directly communicate with people and involve them in our mission of making nation Viksit by 1947. Besides Viksit Bharat we are committed to make J&K Viksit also," he added.
“Our workers must work hard and make people aware about our welfare schemes. Time is not far away when we will have own Government in Jammu and Kashmir," he added.
"The PM has ensured safety and security of people of Jammu and Kashmir," he said adding the Operation Sindoor is an open proof through which we have given a befitting reply to Pakistan. "Our Government is committed for safety and security of all people, and we assure that Modi Government will always be there to ensure safety and security of people and our land.
He said BJP wants progress of every section and region of the country as its Mantra is Sabka Saath and Sabka Vikas.
Maintaining that Article 370 is now a history, he said Congress must understand this reality. Home Minister Amit Shah has always made it firm that Article 370 can never be restored. Now tourists are arriving in a large numbers. The tourism has become major industry which ensured generation of income and employment to people of J&K, he added.
Nabin said the PM is also committed to ensure development of all and you all need to support this mission. “Youth need to work hard and cherish the dream seen by our leaders,’’ he added.
Under Modi rule poor are being empowered by virtue of various schemes. The nation is progressing much and country’s economy is now stable. Many steps have been taken to generate employment, he added.
Sammelan was also addressed by party J&K president, Sat Sharma and LoP, Sunil Sharma read vote of thanks while stage was managed by party general secretary, Gopal Mahajan.
Union Minister, Dr Jitendra Singh, national general secretary, Tarun Chugh, MPs Gulam Ali Khatana and Jugal Kishore Sharma, national secretary, Dr Narinder Singh, former presidents Dr Nirmal Singh, Ashok Khajuria and Ravinder Raina, besides party general secretary, Sanjeeta Dogra were on dais.
Later addressing the office bearers meeting, at BJP Headquarters, Trikuta Nagar , Nabin called upon party workers to further strengthen the organizational structure across Jammu & Kashmir and intensify public outreach to ensure that the benefits of the Narendra Modi-led Government’s welfare initiatives reach every section of society.
The meeting was attended by national general secretary, Rajya Sabha MP and J&K Prabhari, Tarun Chugh, J&K BJP president and Rajya Sabha MP, Sat Sharma, Union Minister, Dr. Jitendra Singh, Leader of Opposition, Sunil Sharma, BJP national secretary and MLA, Dr. Narinder Singh, MPs Jugal Kishore Sharma and Gulam Ali Khatana, former Deputy Chief Minister, Dr. Nirmal Singh, former J&K BJP presidents, Ravinder Raina and Ashok Khajuria, along with senior party leaders.
Congratulating the party leadership and cadre on the BJP’s journey and organizational growth in Jammu & Kashmir, Nabin said the party’s success is the result of the collective dedication, discipline, and sacrifices of its workers over several decades.
He asked the party leaders to strengthen the BJP in both regions of Jammu and Kashmir by conducting regular organizational meetings, maintaining continuous public contact, and effectively communicating the party’s ideology, programmes, and the achievements of the Central Government. He said the growing public acceptance of the BJP’s policies should inspire workers to further deepen their engagement with society.
He said BJP believes that the party has a strong base in Jammu and though it could not form the Government during the last Assembly elections in the UT but winning 29 seats from this region shows that people of Jammu are solidly with the party. He said strengthening BJP in Jammu will boost the morale of cadre in Kashmir too.
Earlier, J&K BJP president Sat Sharma briefed the national president on the party’s organizational activities and ongoing expansion initiatives across Jammu & Kashmir.
Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma presented an overview of the prevailing political situation in the Union Territory and highlighted the party’s role in addressing public concerns while effectively discharging its responsibilities as the principal opposition.
Sharma lambasted the NC Government and its policies while taking serious note of granting permission of supplying books with anti national content in libraries. He said even people in Kashmir are fed up with the party.
Later the BJP president also visited Raghunath temple and paid obeisance there.
He also held meeting with the Core Group of the party late in the evening and discussed the prevailing political situation in J&K with them. He took complete feedback on the working of the party and future organisational strategy.
The BJP president cut short his visit tomorrow as he has to return to New Delhi in afternoon for some urgent party engagement. Sources said he cancelled his visit to holy shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi besides curtailing some engagements also.
