J&K’s new BJP chief invoKes islamic teachings

Newly appointed Jammu and Kashmir BJP chief, Ravinder Raina is a frank man and a firebrand. A “hardcore RSS worker”, he invoked Islamic teachings and quoted Allama Iqbal during his maiden address to party workers in Srinagar on Wednesday. An MLA from Nowshera, Raina joined the BJP in 2010, and was the state president of the BJYM, the youth wing of the BJP. As part of the BJP’s efforts to reach out to the people of the valley, a day before the Centre declared a conditional ceasefire in Army operations against militants during Ramzan, Raina dispelled the notion that the BJP was antiMuslim. “I hope and pray that the holy fasting month of Ramzan brings peace for the entire state…We believe in ‘Hubbul Wattani’ (love for country), which was preached by Prophet Muhammad…We believe in this poem that we recite in schools...It teaches us to love and help the poor and the weak,” Raina said. He added, “Don’t know why people were scared of BJP. People were being made to feel afraid of the BJP by the Congress. They were told if the BJP comes to power, their life will be difficult. But we want peace. Kashmir is the crown of India and we want the lotus to bloom here.” The BJP has claimed that it has enrolled over 3.5 lakh members in the Valley. But the claims are yet to be tested. Despite hectic campaigning in the 2014 Assembly elections, only one out of 34 BJP candidates in the Valley managed to save his security deposit. Raina has triggered several controversies in the past. He first attracted the limelight when he took oath as MLA in 2015 “in the name of Mata Vaishno Devi”. The protem speaker, Mohmmad Shafi Uri had to ask Raina to take oath in the name of God. Raina, along with other BJP legislators allegedly assaulted independent MLA Engineer Rashid inside the Assembly for hosting a “beef party” at the state MLA hostel.