ibune News Service
New Delhi, August 26
The BJP today announced a month-long nationwide contact programme (sampark abhiyaan) to highlight the “significance” of the party-led Centre’s decision to nullify Article 370 and Article 35A in Jammu and Kashmir.
Union Ministers Dharmendra Pradhan and Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said party leaders, including ministers, MPs and office-bearers, would hold public meetings in 35 big cities and 370 smaller towns across the country, including the erstwhile state, between September 1 and 30.
The BJP leaders termed the decision on revoking Article 370 “historic” and one of the few moments in the history of Independent India that united people across political and ideological divides.
Pradhan said after abrogation of the contentious Article, now 85 government schemes could be implemented in J&K.
“The aim is to spread the correct information on the issue. It will be explained to people why it was done, its benefits and the responsibility of the rest of the country in such a situation,” he added. Along with highlighting the developmental works being planned in J&K and Ladakh, the abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution will be projected as a major achievement of the BJP-led NDA government. Apparently, the aim is to keep the issue alive ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections.
The mass connection movement will be done in two stages. In the first stage, 35 metros have been earmarked, where BJP Chief Ministers and the Central leadership will address people and in the second stage, the mass connect will be taken to 370 tier-two and tier-three towns. Of these, seven places are in J&K.
The BJP wants the issue to be discussed not just at the national level, but also at the international level, say sources.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has rejected any scope for third party mediation between India and Pakistan on Kashmir. He said the two countries could discuss and resolve issues bilaterally and did not “want to trouble any third country”. At the same time, India also wants the issue to be discussed and talked about so that its views on the issue are reiterated repeatedly, sources add.
from The Tribune https://ift.tt/2Zxiaji
via Today’s News Headlines
No comments: