Tarun Chugh dares Omar, Mehbooba for ‘open debate’ on J&K situation post Aug 5, 2019

Srinagar, Aug 29: Senior BJP leader and party’s General Secretary Tarun Chug Thursday dared Abdullah’s, Mufti’s and Gandhi’s to have an open debate with BJP on the situation J&K witnessed post August 5, 2019.

“I am ready for an open debate with Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti and those from the Gandhi family. Let the media decide time and venue,” Chug said while addressing a press conference in Jammu, as per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO)

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, security forces’ killings and stone pelting incidents before August 5, 2019 and post August 5, 2019,” said Chug who was flanked by Union Minister GK Reddy, BJP MPs Jugal Kishore and Dr Jitendera Singh.

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 a year and in 2023 and 2024 no stone pelting incident has taken place. “Stone pelting has vanished. “Terrorist is breathing its last post August 5, 2019 and the number of local terrorists is almost zero. Fake encounters have vanished,” he said.

Chug while taking a jibe at NC president Dr Farooq Abdullah said that the NC chief talks 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 and reiterated that BJP was ready for an open debate with Omar and Mehbooba on what has changed post August 5, 2019.