BJP will be able to revoke AFSPA: Anurag Thakur

Jammu, Mar 27:  Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting & Sports and Youth Affairs, Anurag Singh Thakur Wednesday stated that BJP ended militancy in J&K, abrogated Article 370 and 35-A and given the improvement in situation, the party would be able to revoke Armed Forces Special Power Act (AFSPA).

Speaking to the media, while participating in a bike rally as a part of campaigning for party candidate and the Union Minister of State in PMO Dr Jitendra Singh in Udhampur, Thakur said, “It was Congress whose wrong policies brought militancy in J&K. It gave Article 370 and 35-A to J&K which promoted separatism, leading to militancy. BJP, under the visionary leadership of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, ended militancy in J&K and abrogated Article 370 and 35-A, which transformed J&K by bringing a new era of revolutionary development.”

“With the abrogation of Article 370 and end of militancy, security forces don’t need to fight cases. Our security forces have to fight against terrorism. Earlier during this fight, they (security forces) had to face court cases. Now with the improvement in the situation, the BJP government will be able to revoke AFSPA. This is what the Union Home Minister Amit Shahji has said that it can be considered,” Thakur said, while replying to questions about the remarks of the Home Minister regarding revocation of AFSPA.

Thakur was on a visit to Jammu and Kashmir today. During his stay in Udhampur, he participated in a bike rally and attended the organizational meeting at the BJP office (Udhampur). Later in the evening, Thakur visited IIM Jammu. He also participated in the Vikas Bharat Ambassador programme organized at the Radisson Blu Hotel.

Responding to media queries about developments in Delhi, Thakur cited the example of RJD leader Lalu Prasad Yadav to draw a parallel in the case of (Delhi) Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. Thakur pointed out that during Lalu Yadav's involvement in the fodder scam, Rabri Devi used to speak on his behalf, eventually assuming his position, the same was happening in Kejriwal’s case.

“Kejriwal, once an advocate for morality and anti-corruption efforts, finds himself embroiled in corruption allegations today, with his party, the Aam Aadmi Party, deeply entangled. Despite being in jail, Kejriwal's ambition for the CM position remains steadfast, with his corruption allegations breaking records,” he alleged.

Thakur also criticized West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, stating that despite being a woman herself, she failed to safeguard women in her state and instead she was offering “protection to corrupt individuals and rapists.”

He alleged, “Arvind Kejriwal used to say that I am against corruption and will not enter politics. However, he now finds himself and his Aam Aadmi Party entangled in the web of corruption. This is the same individual who once staged protests against the Congress. Today, Kejriwal and his party have plummeted into the depths of corruption, with their Deputy Chief Minister, Education Minister, Health Minister, MP, Councillor and now CM Kejriwal, himself behind the bars. His reign of anarchy and corruption has led him to this fate.”

Targeting the Congress, Anurag Thakur said, “Today, the Congress must introspect, have they sold their conscience too? Arvind Kejriwal earlier used to demand the arrest of Sonia Gandhi, but all the corrupt forces are in cahoots today.”

“The question is - what prompted this drastic change? Why is Congress aligning today with Kejriwal’s corruption? Where are the Congress leaders who, until recently, advocated for legal action in the liquor scam? Today, they are rallying in support of someone who has shattered all corruption records. Does Congress perceive Arvind Kejriwal as innocent?” he questioned.