Pirzada Shakir
Kupwara: As the District Development Council election is approaching across Jammu and Kashmir, Bharatiya Janta Party leader and Minister of State for Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi reached Kupwara on Thursday to campaign for his party candidates.
Naqvi addressed a gathering of dozens of workers at TRC Kupwara and requested them to support their candidates contesting from different District Development Constituencies. He lashed out at “Peoples Alliance for Gupkar Declaration” for playing what he calls “divisive and destructive politics.” The “Peoples Alliance for Gupkar Declaration” (PAGD) is a conglomerate of regional parties of Jammu and Kashmir formed to fight for the restoration of Article 370 (guaranteed special status erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir) and statehood of Jammu and Kashmir that was taken away by a unilateral decision of Modi led government on August 5, 2019.
With the announcement and notification issued by the Centre government about the conduct of the DDC election in Jammu and Kashmir, PAGD decided to contest the election jointly that has been posing a big challenge for BJP and a newly formed Jammu Kashmir Apni Party led by Altaf Bukhari who was a minister in BJP- PDP coalition government in J&K
Bukhari deserted Peoples Democratic Party and formed his party named as “Apni Party” after dilution of Article 370.
It is for the second time Naqvi visited Kashmir post the August 5 decision. He visited Srinagar in January this year for “confidence-building among people of Jammu and Kashmir and aware them about the benefits of dilution of Article 370”.
Naqvi during a presser in Kupwara said Article 370 was a barrier between the people of Jammu and Kashmir and the rest of the country. “Abrogation of Article 370 is reality and cannot be restored as it restricts the opportunity for people of Jammu and Kashmir,” he added.
While hinting towards PAGD, Naqvi said that “Article 370 has been buried 370 km inside the earth and those who want it back have to go 370 km inside to find it.”
DDC elections are meant to strengthen the grass-root democracy and give dignity to the people of Jammu and Kashmir. It will be made to be the direct participants of the Democratic setup of the country.
Union minister said that there should have been a transparent and independent political process in Jammu and Kashmir. ” Due to dynastic politics, it couldn’t become possible. Now that transparent political process has been started that doesn’t go well with dynastics and made them announce that they were not going to contest elections until Article 370 is restored,” alleges Union Minister Naqvi
He further said that all parties are now contesting the DDC election including those who initially told that they won’t fight the election until Article 370 is restored.
To a question about the security of political representatives in J&K, Naqvi said that those who feel threats and need security will be provided the same.
When Minister was asked about the eviction of nomads/ Gujjar Bakerwals from forest land at many places in Jammu and Kashmir, by this reporter, Naqvi responded, “forest land in Jammu and Kashmir has constitutional safeguard and those who live there would not be thrown out.”
Responding to the statement made by Jammu and Kashmir BJP president Ravinder Raina that PDP and NC will be made to chant Jai Shree Ram, Naqvi said that the ideology of BJP is “Sabka Sath Sab Ka Vikas” and the religion of the party is humanity, nationalism, democracy, and secularism.
Naqvi further challenges that no power in the world can destabilize the Union of India and BJP has been successful in restoring confidence among the people of Jammu and Kashmir and the people of India. “There are certain forces who try to weaken the confidence of people include Jammu Kashmir National Conference (JKNC), Jammu Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party (JKPDP) and Congress and “Gupkar Syndicate,” he alleged.
