BJP national general secretary Ram Madhav on Sunday said detained mainstream leaders in Srinagar’s Centaur Hotel were sending messages “that gun was the only way out in Kashmir now”.
“If you [politicians] want jobs for locals, fight for it and do politics on it. Do politics on early restoration of statehood. But don’t send secret messages from [the Centaur Hotel in] SKICC that “gun need to be picked up”. This is not politics. Let these politicians sacrifice first. But I must tell you, one call makes them shiver,” said Mr. Madhav, who presided over a party convention in Srinagar’s Tagore Hall.
Over 40 mainstream leaders were arrested at the SKICC after August 5.
Addressing the party workers, Mr. Madhav, also Kashmir in-charge, had terse message for the regional parties. “Some politicians want to play politics by connecting Article 370 with peoples’ sentiments. J&K is set on the path of peace and development now. Those who try to become stumbling block will be dealt with severely. If keeping 200-300 leaders behind the bars will maintain peace in J&K, let them be there for some time,” said Mr. Madhav.
He was hinting at the arrests of National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah, NC vice president Omar Abdullah and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti. “Political process will start as and when situation improves. It has to restart,” Mr. Madhav said.
Terming the fears of locals on losing land and jobs after revocation of J&K’s special status as ‘propaganda’, he said, “Where will jobs go? No such step will be taken. In fact, more jobs will be created. Utmost caution will be taken to ensure protection of culture, heritage, jobs for the youth and education for Kashmir’s residents,” he said.
The situation was returning towards normalcy, he said. “There has been negligible violence this time. Earlier, small incidents would provoke violence. The common man wants peace in Kashmir. I reached the Srinagar venue late because Batamaloo area was chock-o-block, with people busy in their activities. Shops have to open. There should be no fear,” he said.
The BJP said all Kashmiris were “sons of the soil” and equal citizens of India and would be treated with respect by people. “The politics practised in the last 70 years has come to an end. New administration will run on “sab ka saath, sab ka vikas”. This is the motto of the Modi government. Nepotism and family rule has been the main reason for violence and now new leadership is the need of the hour.,” he added.
He said his party was ready for creation of new leadership.
