Jammu, July 6: Bharatiya Janata Party national president Nitin Nabin on Monday asserted that J&K people “got their real freedom in 2019 when the Prime Minister Narendra Modi abrogated Article 370 and 35-A, realising the vision of Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee.”
“Only the persons with blinkered vision are unable to see what has changed in J&K. Tricolour proudly flying high at Lal Chowk and everywhere else in J&K after Narendra Modi took over the reins of the country as the Prime Minister delineates the change in J&K. Prior to 2014, when Congress was at the helm of affairs at the Centre and was in coalition in J&K government, hoisting tricolour was not allowed on the pretext that it would disturb peace in Kashmir and would create law and order problem,” he stated, while taking a direct dig at his party’s bete-noire, Congress.
Nitin Nabin was addressing “Karyakarta Sammelan” and public rally organised to commemorate the 125th birth anniversary of Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee at Majestic Grand, Mishriwala in Jammu outskirts as his first major engagement during his two-day visit to Jammu.
This was his first visit to J&K after taking over as BJP national president in January this year.
Referring to his earlier visit to J&K in 2011 when he was part of Rashtriya Ekta Yatra, helmed by BJP MP and the then president of Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) Anurag Thakur, he said that the Congress government at the Centre and in J&K (in coalition) felt threatened and did not allow it (Yatra) to enter J&K.
Nabin said, “Even curfew was imposed to sabotage Yatra aimed at unfurling tricolour. As BJYM national general secretary, on January 22, 2011, I, along with two other office bearers, went to Kashmir and sought permission to unfurl tricolour at Lal Chowk. The permission was declined on the pretext that if the tricolour was unfurled, it would vitiate the atmosphere and disturb peace in Kashmir.”
“When we were returning, we saw the Pakistan flag flying at Lal Chowk and the then government in New Delhi remained silent. It was not bothered at all. Had Congress been in power at the Centre, J&K youth would still have been identified as stone-pelters and not as Ranji (trophy) winners,” he aimed another barb, while launching an offensive against Congress.
The BJP president described July 6 as a “very significant day for J&K as it marked the birth anniversary of Syama Prasad Mookerjee who laid down his life here for integrating it fully with the rest of the country with one flag and one constitution.”
He also recalled the struggle of Dr Mookerjee, former BJP president Dr Murli Manohar Joshi and Narendra Modi, before he became the Prime Minister, to “see tricolour unfurling at Lal Chowk and every nook and corner of J&K.”
“My heart swells with pride that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi realised this vision. It is further heartening to note that as we are observing 125th birth anniversary of Dr Mookerjee, the BJP flag is also flying high in West Bengal – the birth-place of BJP ideologue (Dr Mookerjee),” Nitin Nabin said.
Earlier, the BJP national president, accompanied by BJP national general secretary and in-charge J&K affairs Tarun Chugh, was accorded a rousing reception on his arrival at Jammu airport on Monday afternoon.
J&K BJP president Sat Sharma; Union Minister of State in PMO Dr Jitendra Singh; Leader of Opposition in J&K Legislative Assembly Sunil Sharma and MP Jugal Kishore Sharma along with other senior leaders of the party received him at the airport.
On his way from airport to rally spot, enthusiastic BJP workers, with his posters and party flags, lined up at designated spots welcomed Nabin with bouquets and showering flower petals amid drum beats. Nitin Nabin too warmly reciprocated their greetings.
Before addressing the rally, he, joined by all senior leaders of J&K BJP, lit the traditional lamp and paid floral tributes to Dr Mookerjee’s portrait.
BJP MP Gulam Ali Khatana; former Deputy Chief Minister Dr Nirmal Singh; former J&K BJP president Ravinder Raina; J&K BJP senior vice president Sham Sharma besides others were also present on the occasion.
During his visit, Nitin Nabin is scheduled to hold an office bearers’ meeting at BJP J&K Headquarters, Trikuta Nagar and also visit Shri Raghunath temple to pay obeisance there.
On July 7, he will pay obeisance at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in Katra; interact with the party MPs and MLAs, former elected representatives and will have a stimulating interaction with the youth at “Yuva Samvad” in Convention Centre.
