Shah tells BJP MLAs to raise ‘aam aadmi’ issues
BJP chief takes pot shots at Congress
JAMMU:Embarking on BJP’s “Vistaar Yatra” from Jammu on Saturday, BJP national president Amit Shah fired a salvo at the Congress saying a party that caters to the interests of one family cannot work in country’s interest.
He also seized the opportunity for seeking support of intellectuals and youth to the BJP in its quest to strengthen party’s base in Jammu and Kashmir.
Addressing a gathering of intellectuals and prominent citizens here this evening, Shah traced the history and ideology of the BJP to Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee and said the party upholds its internal constitutional values.
“I joined the BJP in 1982 without any political background and rose to the post of the party president. Can anyone tell who is going to be the next president of BJP after my tenure? But in the Congress, it’s anybody’s guess,” Amit Shah said. Earlier in the day, the BJP chief expressed concern over the prevailing situation in the Valley and asked ministers and legislators in the PDP-BJP government to reach out to the people of Kashmir and Ladakh regions to address their issues.
Shah’ s Jam mu visit is part of his 95-day countrywide tour (Vistaar Yatra) to strategise ways to strengthen the party at the grassroots-level with an eye to win the 2019 Lo kS ab ha elections. The visit assumes significance in view of the deteriorating security condition in the state and tension between coalition partners —BJP and Peoples Democratic Party( P DP )—following certain remarks made by some BJP leaders and a minister.
BJP MLA from the Nowshera assembly constituency Ravinder Raina told reporters that the Kashmir situation was discussed with the party chief and somealso given by party minister sand legislators.
“The party president asked ministers and legislators not to remain confined to their constituencies,” Raina said.
Party’sJ&Kin-charge-Avinash Rai Khanna said that Shah discussed expansion of the BJP base in the state. While addressing party ministers, legislators, office bearers and workers, Shah expressed concern over prevailing unrest in Kashmir and said the Centre and the BJP-PDP coalition government have initiated steps to restore peace in the strife-torn Valley .“Heals os eta target to win 40 assembly seats — 37 from Jammu and rest from the Kashmir region — in the assembly polls,” added a party leader. In the 2014 polls, the BJP had managed to win only 25 seats from Jammu region and none from Kashmir. Another B JP leader said the BJP president also asked them reach out to all the stakeholders, except separatists and secessionists, and discuss ways and means to bring the situation in the Valley back to normal.
The Supreme Court on Friday asked the Centre to reach out to all stakeholders in the Valley to cease the vicious cycle of violence.
While the PDP, a partner in the ruling alliance in Jammu and Kashmir, wants the Mo di governmentto engage separatists in talks so as to restore normalcy in the Valley, the Union government has made its stand clear and reiterated that there will not be any talks with separatists or those raising slogans of “accession or Azadi” in Jammu and Kashmir.