‘BJP approached me to form Govt in Jammu and Kashmir: Karra

Srinagar: In a startling revelation, Congress Working Committee member and former Finance Minister Tariq Hamid Karra Wednesday said BJP top brass contacted him twice with regard to government formation in Jammu and Kashmir. He said BJP started to sow the seeds of dissension in PDP shortly after Mufti Muhammad Sayeed was admitted at AIIMS New Delhi ending 2015.
“BJP created rebels inside PDP. The new faces in PDP whom I describe as para-troopers and toddlers took charge of the party and ruined it. I flatly refused when BJP offered me the chair of Chief Minister. Even my well-wishers called me immature, when during the meeting with top brass of BJP, I called their party anti-Muslim and anti-Kashmir and declined their offer,” Karra claimed.
Karra said that it didn’t take him long to realize that the pact between PDP and BJP had been finalized even before 2014 Assembly elections and it was only posturing after the elections. “There was a deal between PDP and BJP. PDP resorted to BJP bashing during election campaign and it benefited her. I was shocked when reality dawned upon me. Majority of the politicians in Kashmir are in politics to increase and secure their business. Nobody thinks and cares about the plight of Kashmiri people. We have to think about our new generation. BJP and RSS are poison that need to keep at bay,” Karra said.
Without revealing the name of the politician, Karra said that that ‘man-Friday’ of Mufti Muhammad Sayeed paved way for the BJP and RSS in Kashmir. That man acted as facilitator and collaborator and persuaded Mufi Sayeed to hold a number of meetings with RSS and BJP. “I was under the impression that Mufti Muhammad Sayeed was visiting Delhi for treatment but little did I know he was holding closed door meetings with BJP and RSS and the facilitator was that same man.”
He lamented that PDP members didn’t show courage to quit the party when people of Kashmir were being butchered in 2016. “Some members who criticized Mehbooba and her party after the fall of the government were too late. Their attitude didn’t make any difference,” he said and added that sensible people can judge me on the grounds that I disassociated myself from the primary membership of the PDP and from the membership of Parliament at a time when like other party members I could have enjoyed perks and other benefits. My God knows, I did it all for people because I am a Muslim first and then Kashmiri.”
While responding to a question, Tariq Hameed Karra said that majority of the PDP members are in touch with BJP and ready to be the part of the new government.
Karra lamented that PDP that was floated to safeguard the life, property, honour, dignity, self-respect and their political aspirations of people of Jammu and Kashmir sat in the lap of BJP and RSS which pursue open anti-Kashmir and anti-Muslim policies.
“Being a Kashmiri, I am concerned about the influence exercised by BJP and RSS in Kashmir. People will never forgive PDP that helped BJP and RSS to open its branches in the state. Even, the BJP president Amit Shah recently claimed in Jammu and that they have created over 52 ‘Shakhas’ (branches) in Jammu and Kashmir. It’s an open truth that PDP invited BJP to Kashmir. The seeds of deceit, discontent and betrayal got sown in the hearts and minds of the people that very day when PDP got into an alliance with the BJP and formed the government”
Karra appealed everyone to come forward and defend Article 35A. “I was the first person who filed an affidavit in Supreme Court in defense of Article 35A on August 5, 2017. When Government didn’t show any interest to file any affidavit initially, I came forward and asked the Supreme Court to make him a party. After one year, the National Conference, Awami National Conference, Civil Society and Bar Association approached the apex court in defense of this Article. I am happy that we are all together and are showing united face irrespective of our party affiliations,” he said.
Karra said that in case of abrogation of Article 35A, all other presidential orders will lose essence. “Our Governor will become Sadre Riyasat and our Chief Minister will get the status of Prime Minister again. Even our High Court will attain the status of the Supreme Court,” he said.