Jammu : In a significant political development indicating a direct showdown between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the ruling National Conference in Jammu and Kashmir, the central high command of the BJP has rushed its top organisational leaders to Jammu for a crucial two-tier meeting of MLAs and core group on Saturday.
The timing of the high-level visit is extremely crucial as it comes just days after the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly witnessed high drama over the statehood resolution moved by the Omar Abdullah government, which contained references to autonomy and special status.
According to party sources, BJP’s National General Secretary (Organisation) BL Santhosh is arriving in Jammu on October 3. He will be accompanied by former J&K Prabhari and Rajya Sabha MP and in-charge of BJP National Headquarters Tarun Chugh, and Union Minister and Core Group member Dr Jitendra Singh.
Sources in the BJP told that the visit was planned after Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi last week and briefed him about the developments in the Assembly, particularly about how the National Conference government brought a resolution on statehood that had mentions of greater autonomy and special status.
WHAT IS THE CONTROVERSY?
When the Omar Abdullah government brought the resolution for restoration of statehood, it did not just demand statehood. The wording of the resolution also spoke about protecting the identity, autonomy and special status of Jammu and Kashmir.
As soon as the resolution was brought, BJP MLAs led by LoP Sunil Sharma created a ruckus inside the Assembly. They called the mention of autonomy and special status unconstitutional and against the spirit of the abrogation of Article 370 and Article 35A on August 5, 2019. BJP said there is no question of autonomy or special status after Parliament has removed it and after the Supreme Court has upheld that decision. BJP staged protests inside the Assembly, shouted slogans, and later held demonstrations in various parts of Jammu and outside as well.
The BJP’s clear stand is—the party is not against statehood, but why bring autonomy and special status through the backdoor in the name of statehood? This is what the party is opposing.
After the protests, the party high command in Delhi has taken serious note of the situation and has now decided to gear up the J&K unit.
As per the schedule the day-long organisational exercise will start at 11am at the BJP headquarters at Trikuta Nagar, Jammu. This meeting will be chaired by BL Santhosh. All BJP MLAs from Jammu and Kashmir, all district presidents, and state office bearers will be present. The two main agendas will be organisational review of the Seva Sankalp Abhiyan—a month-long nationwide programme organised by BJP on the occasion of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s birthday on September 17, which will continue till October 17. Under this, BJP workers are going to the grassroots to apprise people about the benefits of various welfare schemes of the Modi government, like Ayushman Bharat, PM Awas Yojana, Ujjwala, Kisan Samman Nidhi and ensure these schemes reach the last person. The J&K leaders will also give feedback to Santhosh about how many programmes were held in the UT.
Second, and more politically important, a discussion will be held on the prevailing political situation and the statehood resolution. The party leadership will apprise Santhosh about the stand taken by its legislators in the House and outside. Sources say Santhosh will give necessary directions to J&K BJP to further intensify its agitation and protests against the National Conference government, not just on the autonomy issue but also on its failure to fulfill election promises.
Second Session: Core Group Meeting in the evening:
This is the most crucial strategy-making meeting. It will be attended by all Core Committee members and in the meeting, Santhosh will take feedback on the organisational and political situation of the UT and discuss the future roadmap of the party with reference to strengthening nationalist forces across J&K.
Sources say the central leadership believes that the National Conference government has failed on all fronts to meet its election promises made during the 2024 assembly elections—whether it is about providing free electricity, jobs to youth, or other guarantees. BJP wants to corner the Omar Abdullah government on these issues and emerge as a strong watchdog of the interests of the people of J&K, being the main opposition party.
Another leader who will be part of this exercise is the newly appointed Seh Prabhari for J&K, Reena Kashyap, who is an MLA from Himachal Pradesh. She will reach Jammu a day early to seek feedback from party leaders on the prevailing situation.
However, the newly appointed Prabhari for J&K and MP Rajya Sabha Dr Satish Punia, who is also Prabhari of Punjab, is unlikely to participate in view of his preoccupation in Punjab which is going to polls soon.
