The BJP’s Jammu and Kashmir in-charge Tarun Chugh on Thursday challenged the National Conference, People’s Democratic Party and the Congress to an open debate on the decisions of August 5, 2019 and ground situation in the union territory since then.
Chugh along with other BJP leaders inaugurated the party’s media center in Jammu which will remain active round the clock till the three phase assembly election will conclude and results are announced on October 4.
“I challenge the Abdullah, Mufti and Gandhi-Nehru family who are running the parties like generational medical shops, to an open debate on the state of terrorism, security, and civilian safety during their tenure and compare it with ours,” said Chugh, adding, “They should also be ready to debate their misleading claims and conspiracies about Article 370 and 35 A. He said that the BJP is ready for a debate on any media platform.
The BJP leader said that the NC, PDP and Congress had terrified people of J&K while the BJP caressed people of the region. “These three parties want to regress J&K back into the 1990’s when an exodus of 1.60 lakh Kashmiri Pandits took place from Kashmir,” said Chugh.
The BJP leader asserted that there had been a significant decline in militant and law and order incidents since August 5, 2019, when Article 370 was abrogated and the state was downgraded into the two UT’s of J&K and Ladakh.
“In the last few years we have not only neutralized terrorists and reduced terrorism but also shortened the lifespan of terrorists. We have eradicated fake encounters and innocent killings,” said Chugh adding, “They must answer for their records. I challenge Abdullah to prepare for this debate. I am ready.” The BJP general secretary said that they have also drastically decreased civilian casualties, security force casualties, and incidents of violence.
He also alleged that these political families encouraged stone pelting in Kashmir. “Under their governance, there were approximately 1,328 incidents of stone-pelting annually which reduced to zero in 2023, and none reported this year,” he claimed.
Chugh also asked the Congress to clear its stand on the NC’s manifesto especially regarding the release of prisoners and on reinstatement of Article 370.
“Dr Farooq Abdullah and his Srinagar MP often reiterate enacting the 1990 situation and violence in J&K…People have not forgotten the turmoil of 1990 under Mufti Sayeed and Farooq Abdullah’s leadership,” he said.
The BJP leader alleged that jailed JKLF leader Yasin Malik received red-carpet treatment under the Congress rule in New Delhi and clicked pictures with the then-Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. “Terrorists were honored and emboldened. Does Congress wish to return to that era?”
