Jammu, Jul 06 (KNO): Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) National President Nitin Nabin on Monday said that the people of Jammu and Kashmir attained their "real freedom" after the abrogation of Article 370 and Article 35-A in 2019, and exuded hope that the BJP would eventually form the government in the Union Territory.
According to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) Nabin addressed a 'Karyakarta Sammelan' at Mishriwala on the outskirts of Jammu on the concluding day of the nationwide celebrations marking the 125th birth anniversary of Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee.
Nabin, who is on his maiden visit to J&K after taking over as BJP National President in January this year, said, “The constitutional changes carried out by the Narendra Modi-led government fulfilled the vision of the BJP ideologue for the complete integration of Jammu and Kashmir with the rest of the country.”
Stating that significant changes have taken place in Jammu and Kashmir after 2014, Nabin said the national tricolour now flies proudly across the Union Territory, including Srinagar's Lal Chowk, which, according to him, reflected a transformed political and security environment.
He said that previous governments opposed attempts to hoist the national flag at Lal Chowk, citing concerns over law and order.
Recalling his participation in the Rashtriya Ekta Yatra in 2011 as then Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha national general secretary, Nabin said a three-member delegation, including himself, had sought permission to unfurl the tricolour at Lal Chowk but was denied approval. He alleged that curfew was imposed to prevent the programme and claimed that a Pakistani flag was seen flying at Lal Chowk during that period.
“Only the persons with blinkered vision are unable to see what has changed in J&K. Tricolour proudly flying high at Lal Chowk and everywhere else in J&K after Narendra Modi took over the reins of the country as the Prime Minister delineates the change in J&K. Prior to 2014, when Congress was at the helm of affairs at the Centre and was in coalition in J&K government, hoisting tricolour was not allowed on the pretext that it would disturb peace in Kashmir and would create law and order problem,” he stated.
Contrasting the situation with the present, Nabin said the youth of Jammu and Kashmir are now being recognised for achievements in sports rather than for unrest, adding that the Union Territory was moving towards peace, development and prosperity.
“Many people ask “what changed” and I tell them that a lot has changed in Jammu and Kashmir” he said adding, “Today, the youth of Jammu and Kashmir are known as Ranji Trophy champions and not stone pelters,” he said, reiterating that J&K is moving towards “a new era of peace, progress and prosperity”.
The BJP president described July 6 as a “very significant day for J&K as it marked the birth anniversary of Syama Prasad Mookerjee who laid down his life here for integrating it fully with the rest of the country with one flag and one constitution.”
He also recalled the struggle of Dr Mookerjee, former BJP president Dr Murli Manohar Joshi and Narendra Modi, before he became the Prime Minister, to “see tricolour unfurling at Lal Chowk and every nook and corner of J&K.”
“My heart swells with pride that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi realised this vision. It is further heartening to note that as we are observing 125th birth anniversary of Dr Mookerjee, the BJP flag is also flying high in West Bengal – the birth-place of BJP ideologue (Dr Mookerjee),” Nabin said.
Calling upon party workers to strengthen the organisation, the BJP president said the party should continue expanding its outreach across Jammu and Kashmir.
He expressed confidence that "the day is not far when Jammu and Kashmir will also have a BJP government," adding that while the lotus had already bloomed in Jammu, it would soon bloom in Kashmir as well.
Referring to the contributions of Dogra leaders and warriors, including General Zorawar Singh and Brigadier Rajinder Singh, Nabin urged party workers to connect with people at the grassroots and spread awareness about the Centre's development initiatives and welfare programmes.
The rally marked Nabin's maiden visit to Jammu and Kashmir after assuming charge as BJP national president earlier this year. The event concluded the fortnight-long Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee Pakhwada, observed across the country from June 23 to July 6.
Earlier in the day, Nabin received a warm welcome on his arrival at Jammu Airport, where he was received by senior BJP leaders, including J&K BJP president Sat Sharma, Union Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office Dr Jitendra Singh, Leader of Opposition in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly Sunil Sharma, BJP national general secretary and J&K in-charge Tarun Chugh, MP Jugal Kishore Sharma and other party functionaries. Party workers greeted him at several locations en route to the rally venue with flowers, flags and traditional drum beats.
Before addressing the gathering, Nabin and senior BJP leaders paid floral tributes to the portrait of Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee.
During his two-day visit, Nabin is scheduled to hold meetings with BJP office-bearers and the party's core group in Jammu, offer prayers at the historic Raghunath Temple and interact with party legislators and former elected representatives.
On Tuesday, he is scheduled to visit the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in Katra, pay tributes to Pt Prem Nath Dogra, and participate in a "Yuva Samvad" programme with young party workers before concluding his visit—(KNO)