BJP in doldrums after Kargil debacle: Rattan Lal

Party in dock over dying Industry, long power cuts, JJM, Ayushman & recruitment scams

JAMMU, Oct 12: Rattan Lal Gupta, Provincial President of J&K National Conference, Jammu, on Thursday said that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is frustrated and in a state of disarray after losing the LAHDC Kargil election.

In a statement issued here today, the senior NC leader said that BJP’s defeat in Kargil is a major setback for the party in Jammu and Kashmir and is also a clear indication that the people have rejected their divisive and anti-people policies.

He said that the election to the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC)-Kargil was the first poll held after Ladakh was carved out as a Union Territory following the abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution and the people of Ladakh have severely rejected the divisive politics of BJP and its policies which are against the people of J&K and Ladakh.

He asserted that the Bharatiya Janta Party , ably assisted by a totally biased Ladakh administration, did everything possible to deny us our rights to use Party symbol in LAHDC poll but our symbol, the ‘Plough’, was given to us by the Honble Supreme Court. 

Rattan Lal Gupta termed the victory of National Conference in LAHDC as a trend setter for the future elections in Jammu and Kashmir, adding that the people have voted in favour of the secular parties.  

He asserted that BJP is afraid to fight Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir, and even now, the Saffron Party is unable to context the ULB and Panchayat elections in J&K, which is why these elections have been put on hold. This is a clear indication that the BJP is losing ground in the region and is no longer confident of winning elections.

The Party’s popularity has declined due to its failure to deliver on its promises, its divisive rhetoric, and anti people policies. The BJP has also been criticized for its mishandling of the security situation in the region. He also said that the youth of Jammu and Kashmir have become victims of recruitment scams and that their future is bleak due to rampant corruption in recruitment.

The Provincial President has termed the government at the Centre as “Jumlabazi Sarkar”. He said no major development has seen in Jammu region as the industrial sector is on the verge of closure, unemployment is at its peak, people are facing a shortage of basic amenities, and they are not able to get regular power and water supply, even though the government is talking about making Jammu and Srinagar as Smart Cities.

Rattan Lal also accused the BJP of depriving the people of Jammu and Kashmir of the elected government for the last five years. He mentioned that recently more than 20 political parties unitedly staged a protest, giving message to the people of country that the BJP of depriving the people of democratic process in Jammu and Kashmir. He said the time has come for the Assembly elections in J&K and it is undemocratic to deprive the people of an elected government for such a long time.

The senior NC leader said that the false propaganda of the Saffron Party has been totally exposed before the countrymen and the people will give a befitting reply to BJP in the upcoming polls in Jammu and Kashmir for betraying the people of Jammu region on all fronts.