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Created: 27 May 2019

JAMMU: In a significant development, on the invitation of the Nordic States Forum, a State BJP delegation under the leadership of Ashwani Kumar Chrungoo, BJP State Spokesperson on Kashmir Affairs met the representatives of six Nordic Nations in New Delhi today. The meeting was held at the Sweedish Embassy in New Delhi. Dr. Rajat Mitra, Human Rights Expert and author of "The Infidel Next Door" was the other member of the delegation. 

The Nordic States were represented by Erik af Hallstrom, Dy. Head of Mission, Embassy of Finland, Giske Charlotte, Councillor-Head of Political Affairs, Norweegian Embassy, Steen Malthe Hansen, Minister Councillor, Dy. Chief of Mission, Royal Danish Embassy, Gautam S Bhattacharya, Minister Councellor, Dy. Head of Mission, Embassy of Sweden, Kristin Eva J. Sigurdardottir, Dy. Head of Mission, Embassy of Iceland and Juuli Hiio, Dy. Head of Mission, Embassy of Estonia.

The meeting coincided with the declaration of the Lok Sabha elections and the formation of the new government in India under the leadership of Narendra Modi. The agenda of the meeting comprised the current Jammu & Kashmir situation and the Kashmir Hindu Minority perspective. It also discussed the aspirations of the region's of Ladakh and Jammu.

Ashwani Kumar Chrungoo in his detailed presentation made a case for the new government's agenda in Jammu and Kashmir focussed on peace, development and ending discrimination with the victims of bias in the State. He said peace is the BJP's top priority in Kashmir and elimination of terrorism is the fundamental condition incidental to the establishment of peace. The Mandate2019 in Jammu and Kashmir has given Bhartiya Janata Party a whooping 47 percent of votes in the recently conducted elections, so has added responsibilities to it to realise the long pending demands of the people. 

He said BJP stands committed to the abrogation of Article 35A which is ultra vires of the fundamental rights and the international human rights. It discriminates among the citizens and has categorized people in the state into first class, second class and third class citizens. Article 370 of the Constitution has created a state within a state and build walls of hatred and discrimination among various sections of people in India. Moreover, the Instrument of Accession was unconditional so this temporary provision will have to go eventually. 

Pakistan's role in death, destruction and mayhem in Kashmir is a fact of history and it has not implemented its commitments given to India that 'the soil under its control would not be used against India'. It supported and abetted terror and inflicted genocide of Hindu minorities in Kashmir. The terrorists and their operatives in Jammu and Kashmir killed Hindus selectively and enforced mass exodus and ethnic cleansing upon them. People were forced to live as refugees in their own country.

The regions of Jammu and Ladakh have continuously suffered due to callous and discriminatory policies of the governments all along. Jammu suffered due to delimitation of constituencies, demographic intervention, terrorism, administrative bias and communal policies. Ladakh has been one of the most neglected cases historically and politically over the last seven decades.

One important aspect of the overall situation is the grave human rights violation of the West Pakistan refugees whose fate hangs in uncertainty do to the Article 35 and the Article 370. BJP has made promises to the people to end their miseries and we will realise our promises in the next five years term.

Kashmiri Pandits, the indegenous people of the Kashmir valley, are the primary stakeholders to the land of Kashmir. They have been the first victims of terrorism in the valley. Their resettlement in Kashmir Valley is the party's basic commitment. BJP is conscious of the aspirations of Pandits in this regard. We will ensure that the displaced community gets it's due and a process will be initiated once terrorism is finished and peace restored. 

On the occasion, Dr. Rajat Mitra described the trans-transgenerational trauma factor among the displaced community caused due to intermittent historical persecution and mass exodus. He suggested that the international opinion makers need to take into account the three decades trauma of the sufferers in the J&K state.

Two books, "Terrorism in J&K: A Historical Perspective" and "The Infidel Next Door" were presented to the representatives of the Nordic states. The Nordic States representatives made it known that the important perspectives presented by the delegation would lead them to visit J&K state in near future for an on the spot assessment and evaluation of the situation. They also agreed that they would like to visit the Ladakh region as well during their visit.