Credit for maintaining peace in Kashmir goes to PM Modi: Darakshan Andrabi

Baramulla, Aug 13: The National Executive Committee Member of BJP and J&K  Waqf Board Chairperson , Dr Syed Darakshan Andrabi,  on Tuesday stated that the peace and tranquility evident in Kashmir was because of BJP and the Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

She said that the work the GoI has done in the last 10 years under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi for public welfare is evident in Kashmir.

"Everyone must acknowledge that the peaceful environment we see in Kashmir is because of the BJP and Prime Minister Modi. Otherwise, we all know the troubles we have seen over the past 35 years," she said.

Dr Andrabi was speaking to the reporters on the sidelines of the manifesto committee outreach program held at Dak Bungalow Baramulla.  She said that in the past the elections were associated with curfews, stone-pelting, and shutdown calls. "But today, elections are celebrated like a festival," she said.

The BJP leader said the work done by the Government of India (GoI) over the last 10 years will be the foundation for the five-year plan in view of the upcoming Assembly elections. She said that the manifesto that will be issued by the party ahead of assembly elections will reflect the needs and requirements of the people here.

"This is the work we need to focus on. Our Prime Minister Narendra Modi has emphasized that we must reach the last person, listen to them, and work at that level," she said. She said that the four-member manifesto committee has been formed by our party specifically in north Kashmir wherein they meet different delegations and  engage in conversations with them.

"Usually, a manifesto is issued by the party itself, but the BJP believes that, being a national party, it must address both national and local agendas. Today, we have traveled district to district, listening to the heartbeat of the people. We are here not to tell, but to listen, to understand the five-year plans that need to be worked out," Dr Andrabi said.

She said that the motive of the outreach programme is to meet people and reflect their needs in BJP's election manifesto.  About the party preparations for Assembly elections, Dr Andrabi said that in the Lok Sabha elections, there was not any manifesto team, but the party being cadre-based is always ready to serve the public.

"It does not matter when the election call comes but our concern is that our workers are always ready to take any task given to us. Whether it is for parliamentary elections or local-level elections. The party is always prepared," she said.

About the expectations on holding Assembly elections, Dr Andrabi said that the visit of the ECI delegation itself indicates that there is peace in Kashmir and elections can be held anytime here. "We see their visit in a positive way, and we have also engaged in discussions with the ECI delegation as well . Now, the election atmosphere is seen everywhere so polls could be held at any time," she said.

About the mandate to the candidates, she said that the mandate will be decided by the election committee. "We do not decide in advance who the party's candidate will be because every worker is actively involved in their work. Whoever is given the party's responsibility, he/she will fulfill it," she said.

About the manifesto outreach program, she said that in the last three days they have observed that there is a strong wave of BJP in north Kashmir saying that all the party workers were fully capable and enthusiastic. "Our party workers are always ready to take on any task the party assigns them," she said.