Claim by National Conference of following Gandhi’s vision is false & frivolous: Brig Gupta

JAMMU: The result of the recently held assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir proved beyond doubt that the voting was not done on regional basis but religious basis because of the successfully played communal card by National Conference. While to the contrary its leaders often proclaim to be following Gandhi Ji’s vision. It is mere rhetoric and much far from truth retorted Brig Anil Gupta, Spokesperson of Bharatiya Janata Party in a press release issued today. Adding further Brig Gupta asserted that Gandhi Ji was a firm believer of inclusivity and secularism, the two ideals NC never adhered to right since its inception. Gandhi Ji’s name is being exploited by the NC leadership to remain politically relevant outside the Kashmir Valley.

“The Maharaja was called as a ‘Kafir’ by Abdul Qadir in his fiery speech in 1939 where Sheikh Abdullah was the Stage Secretary. The Quit Kashmir call given by the later in 1946 was manifestation of the same ideology because Sheikh wanted the Hindu Dogra ruler to leave Kashmir Valley, a Muslim majority area. The demand was not to relinquish the throne. Sheikh was interested only in Kashmir Valley and had neither any interest nor any stake in the rest of the princely state,” alleged Brig Gupta.

Elaborating further Brig Gupta said that the secular claim of NC got busted when Sheikh refused the Sikh refugees from Muzaffarabad and nearby areas to settle in Kashmir Valley. It was further exposed when the Uyghur & Balti Muslim refugees were granted citizenship while the Hindu refugees from West Pakistan were refused the same. The icing on the cake was the refusal of NC to insert the word secular in the then State’s Constitution while it was inserted in the Indian Constitution. Exclusivity has been the hallmark of NC politics. Why was the state administrative service and radio services named KAS and Radio Kashmir and not JKAS and Radio Jammu Kashmir questioned the NC leadership?

NC’s love for Gandhi Ji is out of compulsion and not conviction asserted Brig Gupta. Reminding NC of its disrespect for Gandhi Ji, Brig Gupta questioned as to why the installation of the statue of Gandhi Ji in the newly constructed high court complex in Srinagar was cancelled on October 2, 1988 by the then NC-Congress government? Not only that the person who spearheaded the movement against installation, an active member of NC, was later given a ticket for the Srinagar Lok Sabha seat in 1989. Not even a little finger was raised by the NC or Congress leaders who now shed crocodile tears on the ideals of Gandhi ji. It was only after the abrogation of 370 that BJP government ensured installation of the statues of Gandhi ji in the High Court and the Secretariat in Srinagar claimed Brig Gupta.

Quoting an example of exclusivity, in 1985 a few civil servants floated a cooperative society with the aim of meeting their bona fide need of housing since they were serving the state. NC legislators opposed the registration of the society on the plea that non- state subjects could not acquire residential plots despite them rendering life-long service in the state. They were accused of a conspiracy to upset the population balance. The 32 members belonging to IAS and IPS dissolved the society in disgust. It displayed NC’s apathy against the representatives of the Centre and exposed the hollow claims of inclusivity.

Brig Gupta further exposed the hypocrisy of NC by questioning as to why it didn’t accept applicability of the Religious Institutions (Prevention of Misuse Act), 1988 enacted by the Centre.  The situation at that time demanded that it should be made applicable in J&K since fundamentalism and secession was being preached assiduously than from the pulpits of mosques here. Dr Farooq Abdullah’s government turned deaf ears to the threats being given to the Kashmiri Hindus and yet it claims to be secular. Undoubtedly, the claims made by NC of following Gandhi Ji’s vision are false and frivolous.