Direct contest between BJP, those putting J&K on fire: Chugh

Jammu, Aug 29: BJP National General Secretary and In-charge J&K affairs, Tarun Chugh Thursday asserted that ensuing assembly elections would be a direct contest between the trio of “Gandhi-Nehru, Abdullahs and Muftis, who put J&K on fire” and his “party, which, under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, healed its (J&K’s) wounds.”

Chugh also dared the leadership of Congress, National Conference (NC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for an open debate on their stand on terrorism, Articles 370, 35-A, security situation and casualties in terror-related violence.

“This is my direct poser to Dr Farooq Abdullah – Does NC want to bring back the dark period of 1990? None has forgotten that restive period. Horrendous acts of terrorism still haunt people of J&K. Do you want to push J&K and its people back to that vortex of terrorism? NC manifesto is a clear reflection of its nefarious designs as it talks about restoration of Article 370, 35-A, repeal of PSA and release of prisoners.

NC MP from Srinagar in an interview also talked about the return of 1990. Does Congress support its (NC’s) stand,” BJP leader asked, while referring to NC MP’s remarks in an interview wherein he, according to Chugh, said that 1990 could return to J&K, if Article 370 was not restored.

Chugh was addressing the media, after inaugurating a “Media War Room” in Jammu, for assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir. Union Ministers G Kishan Reddy, Dr Jitendra Singh; J&K BJP president Ravinder Raina; MP Jugal Kishore Sharma; national spokespersons R P Singh, Shazia Ilmi and former minister Sat Sharma accompanied him on the occasion.

“Media War Room” has been established in a hotel in Channi.

“With our zero-tolerance stand for terrorism, BJP has worked for peace and development in J&K in contrast to the regimes of Gandhi-Nehru, Abdullahs and Muftis, bringing only death and destruction here. Statistics substantiate our point. These families have ruled the state like a “generational shop.” I challenge them for an open debate, anywhere on their misleading claims about Article 370 and 35(A),” BJP National General Secretary said.

He stated that since 1950, Praja Parishad under the leadership of Pandit Prem Nath Dogra, Jan Sangh and BJP under its ideologue Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee always envisioned J&K as an integral part of India. “It (J&K) was a priority for us then; it’s still a priority for us – its people, their safety and security; peace and progress here.

Since August 5, 2019, under the bold leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, there has been a perceptible improvement in law and order situation and decline in terrorism, casualties of civilians and security forces. We wiped out terrorism as well as terrorists, following abrogation of Article 370, shortened their (terrorists’) life-span. Fake encounters and innocent civilian killings have ended,” he said.

Taking a dig at Congress, NC and PDP, Chugh recalled terror related violence of 1990, when Mufti Muhammad Sayeed was the Union Home Minister and Dr Farooq Abdullah was the Chief Minister. “During Congress regime, the then Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh would have a photo-shoot with Yasin Malik. Those were the days when terrorists would be honoured. Do they (Congress) want to revive those days? Farooq wants release of prisoners. Who are those prisoners? Does he want to release Malik and others like him?” he asked.

He said, “Let Omar and Mehbooba debate with us on what has changed post abrogation of Article 370. We have the official figures on terror incidents, civilian killings, killing of security forces’ personnel and stone pelting incidents before August 5, 2019 and post August 5, 2019.”

He said in 2018, 55 civilian killings took place and there were only 23 in 2023 and just 14 in 2024 so far.

“Similarly, in 2018, 90 security forces personnel were killed but in 2023 there were only 30 and the number has gone down to just 14 in 2024,” he said, adding that once there were 1328 stone pelting incidents in a year and in 2023 and 2024 no stone pelting incident took place. “Stone pelting has vanished. Terrorism is breathing its last, post August 5, 2019 and the number of local terrorists is almost zero. Fake encounters have vanished,” he said.

While taking a jibe at NC president Dr Farooq Abdullah, Chugh said that he talked about releasing the jailed leaders. “I want to ask him whom he is going to release—those who were promoting stone pelting and terror. Do they want to revive the stone pelting and gun culture in Kashmir,” he said.

Chugh asserted that the BJP successfully brought about a positive transformation in the region, and this progress would be at risk if the National Conference regained power.