Congress dancing to the tunes of Pak, ISI: Tarun Chugh

Srinagar, Sep 04: BJP National General Secretary and party in-charge of J&K, Tarun Chugh, today accused the Congress of being a significant impediment to J&K's development.

He alleged that the party has "wreaked havoc" in J&K for over 70 years by aligning with forces across the border. Chug accompanied Arif Raja, Asok Bhat to DC office for filing nomination. Chugh's sharp critique came in response to recent comments by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who questioned the state of democracy in the Union Territory.

BJP leader argued that the Congress, in collaboration with regional parties like the National Conference (NC) and the People's Democratic Party (PDP), has perpetuated a proxy war in J&K, fueling violence and unrest to deliberately deprive the youth of employment opportunities.

"It has been a calculated design of the Congress to support divisive forces and to let down the Kashmiri Pandits," Chugh said, adding that the party's rhetoric often mirrors that of cross-border forces, particularly those led by the ISI.

Chugh also addressed the sensitive issue of statehood, which has been a focal point of political discourse in J&K since the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019. He criticised Rahul Gandhi for misleading the public on this matter, reiterating that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has committed to restoring statehood once the law and order situation in the J&K stabilizes.

Highlighting the BJP's achievements in J&K, Chugh pointed to the dismal performance of the so-called "Gupkar gang"—a coalition of regional parties—in the District Development Council (DDC) and Lok Sabha elections as evidence of a growing shift in public sentiment.

He said that there is a new wave of optimism among the youth, who are now seeking legitimate job opportunities instead of being lured into violence. "There has been a new upsurge in J&K as the youth have started looking for new job avenues after giving up the misleading way of stones and guns," he added. Tarun Chugh said that job creation for the youth and the empowerment of women are top priorities for the BJP in J&K. He promised that the party would work tirelessly to turn a new leaf for the people of J&K, contrasting the BJP's development agenda with what he described as the Congress's decades-long neglect.

His comments come at a crucial time as political parties gear up for the assembly elections, which are being seen as a significant test of the BJP's influence in the region post-Article 370. The BJP's narrative of development and progress is likely to play a central role in its campaign, as the party seeks to capitalize on what it views as the failures of its opponents to deliver on the aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.