BJP – The Kashmir Horizon

Yechury calls for PM to fulfill poll promise on 50 pc hike in MSP to farmers

United News of India — Thu, 15 Jun 2017 13:08:38 +0000

New Delhi: CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury has drawn Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s attention to the farmers plight and demanded that the latter fulfill his poll promise of a Minimum Support Price (MSP) providing a 50 per cent net profit to the farmer over his production costs.
In a letter to the Prime Minister, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader reminded him of his poll promise of a hike in MSP over production costs, pointing out that ‘during the last three years, you have done nothing to fulfill this promise.
The current MSP for various crops fixed by your government barely provides any returns to the farmer.
‘ The letter pointed out the agrarian plight of farmers across India, which has resulted in a high level of rural distress, including thousands of suicides by farmers in the past three years.
Referring to increasing protests by farmers in one state after another, which had been met by the PM’s ‘silence and apathy while the state governments of your party have let the police loose on the poor farmers,’ the letter said.

Rahul says BJP govt forcing people, journalists into silence

United News of India — Mon, 12 Jun 2017 12:56:50 +0000

Bengaluru: Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi today accused the Narendra Modi government of muzzling the media by not allowing journalists to write what they want to express. Speaking at the launch of commemorative publication of Congress mouth piece National Herald here, he said thousands of journalists in the country were not being allowed to write what they want. ‘I meet them and they tell me that they are being silenced’. He said during his visit to Golden Temple two days ago he learnt the powerful concept of Sikhism — ‘Peeri’ and ‘Meeri’. While Peeri means ‘the power of truth’, Meeri means the ‘truth of power’. ‘This is what is happening in India now. There is a dis-balance between these two forces. The power of truth is being completely replaced by the truth of power. Anybody who attempts to say the truth, who want to stand for the truth are being pushed aside,’ he stated. Mr Gandhi said the Dalits were being beaten up, minorities were frightened, while journalists and bearucrats are being threatened. He said during his visit to Madhya Pradesh a couple of days ago a policeman had told him that he had been forced to do something that he doesnt want to do. ‘I asked him why I was not allowed as I am citizen of India and I am allowed to come to Madhya Pradesh. On what basis you are stopping me. Is there a law to do this. For this he said there is no such law but he had been told to stop him,’ he said. He said that was basically what is being done in the country. When he went to Uttar Pradesh last week same thing happened and he was stopped at the border. ‘This is the India we are living in. The country where power is simply used to ‘manufacture’ truth and everybody knows what the truth is, but people are scared to say. Quoting a Soviet poet, he said when truth is being silenced, then the truth becomes a lie. This is what the government is trying to do. It is forcing everything into silence, he alleged. Mr Gandhi said the National Herald had a strong spirit that it will not going to be silenced. ‘The Editor came to me some time back, I told him when he wants to say something against the congress party its ideas or me, I will be absolutely comfortable and want him to say it without any fear. ‘That is the spirit we expect from National Herald. Speak the truth and do not be silenced or be scared.’ The Congress party today launched the refurbished website of National Herald, which had stopped the publication a few years ago, as the party preferred Bengaluru as it is the IT Capital of the country. The publication would also go into print shortly. While Vice President Hamid Ansari delivered the keynote address, Karnataka Governor Vajubhai R Vala, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, KPCC President G Parameshwara, National Herald Director Oscar Fernandes and Congress leader Gulam Nabi Azad also attended the function.
In his keynote address, Mr Ansari said the Press had emerged as a tool for national awakening. It became a medium of nationalist political participation for the masses. The Press was a medium for propagation of modern ideas of democracy, freedom and equality. He said the English Press emerged as a medium of communication between nationalists across the country and played a role in welding India into a single nation and in giving the Indians a sense of national identity. This was crucial in mobilising the masses for various nationalist and social causes. ‘Mahatma Gandhi was associated with six journals. ‘Young India’ and ‘Harijan’ became powerful vehicles of his views on all subjects. For Gandhiji, journalism was a public service, he said. ‘In my humble opinion, it is wrong to use a newspaper as a means of earning a living. When a newspaper is treated as a means of making profits, the result is likely to be serious malpractices. ‘It is not necessary to prove to those who have some experience of journalism that such malpractices do prevail on a large scale,’ he said.” He expressed his happiness over National Herald resuming its publication in both print and digital formats. ‘I am sure that it will uphold the standards of journalism that Jawaharlal Nehru enshrined in his newspaper’. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said the struggle for country’s Independence, journalism played a highly impactful role, so much so that it was synonymous with Nationalism, Patriotism and Secularism. He said National Herald had always championed the cause of the Freedom of Press and was considered as the ‘Voice of India’, during the fight for Independence. ‘No wonder, it was banned between 1942 and 1945 following, the gag on the Indian Press after the Quit India Resolution,’ he added.

BJP’s claim for rotational CM

K H News Service — Fri, 19 May 2017 17:33:09 +0000

Since media reports about BJP’s claim for Chief Minister on rotational basis are coming amid reports about governor recommending governor’s rule in the state, the possibility of ruling PDP-BJP coalition heading for a breaking point can’t be ruled out. In fact BJP has not shown any respect for the “agenda of alliance” reached between the two parties for government formation and the central government commanded and controlled by BJP is not showing any concern for the difficulties PDP is facing in the aftermath of the last year’s unrest and the current phase of student protests in educational institutions. Ironically the Mehbooba government is not even getting the fund flow it requires for the completion of the incomplete development projects and the launch of some new projects in road, power and housing sectors in the state. Even this day when the Finance Minister Arun Jaitley concluded his two day visit to Srinagar in connection with his participation in 14th GST council meeting the Chief Minister sought the intervention of Jaitley for free flow of funds to help state complete the incomplete projects and launch some new project in some key sectors. Knowing that the trading community in Kashmir has sought huge losses during last year’s unrest in Kashmir valley the Finance Minister should have announced some sops for the valley traders. The BJP government at the centre is neither showing concern about the continuing unrest and political instability in Kashmir nor offers the state the finances required for the execution of both pending and new development projects in the state but is trying to create new controversies just to hurt and humiliate the people of Kashmir who are yet to recover from the wounds of last year’s unrest. The BJP instead of trying to show respect to the agenda of alliance has created controversies over article 370, state flag and property rights act governed by article 35-A during last two and a half years’ coalition rule in the state. So bye and large BJP is more responsible for the current crisis in Kashmir than its ally BJP.

The BJP’s claim for the position of Chief Minister on rotational basis which has come from Jitendra Singh MoS in Prime Minister’s office is breach of agreement reached between Prime Minister Modi and late Mufti Mohammad Sayeed for government formation in Jammu & Kashmir and shows Prime Minister’s policy of hot pursuit. So when hot pursuit is the approach of the Prime Minister, the alliance of PDP with BJP can’t last long.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi during last two and half year’s PDP-BJP coalition rule twice visited the state but during his visits he publicly hurted and humiliated two elected chief ministers——–late Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and Mehbooba Mufti. In November 2015 Narendra Modi during a public rally in Srinagar refused to take any demand from the then Chief Minister Mufti Mohamad Sayeed by asking him not to give advices on engagement with Pakistan and last month Narendra Modi on his visit to Jammu asked the Kashmiri youth to choose tourism over “terrorism”. The BJP’s claim for the position of Chief Minister on rotational basis which has come from Jitendra Singh MoS in Prime Minister’s office is breach of agreement reached between Prime Minister Modi and late Mufti Mohammad Sayeed for government formation in Jammu & Kashmir and shows Prime Minister’s policy of hot pursuit. So when hot pursuit is the approach of the Prime Minister, the alliance of PDP with BJP can’t last long.

BJP’s indefensible defence

K H News Service — Tue, 02 May 2017 18:09:18 +0000

Knowing that without resumption of bilateral dialogue with Pakistan and unconditional engagement with the joint separatist leadership India can’t restore calm in Kashmir by denying political space to dissenting voices in valley and increasing deployment of police and paramilitaries in populated areas. Surprisingly Home Minister Rajnath Singh has discussed the worsening law and order situation in Kashmir with Governor N.N Vohra twice in last one week but the recent meeting of both Prime Minister and Home Minister with the elected Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti ended with a categorical denial to her demand for political outreach in Kashmir. Till yesterday Chief Minister was expecting a magical response on her demand for dialogue with the joint separatist leadership and Pakistan government but now all expectations of Chief Minister have been belied by the proactive remarks of the Home Minister Rajnath Singh, BJP Chief Amit Shah and All India BJP General Secretary Ram Madhav who is known for stitching the alliance with PDP for the formation of the incumbent PDP-BJP coalition government in the state. Though political morality demands that allies coming together to run a government show respect for the agreements on all issues but both the local and central BJP leadership right from the day one has only shown disrespect to the agreements reached with PDP on some key political issues standing at the core of difficulties in relations of the successive popular governments of Jammu & Kashmir with the successive central governments.

As the Chief Minister is the genuine representative of the people of the state in the eyes of the central government, the BJP top brass has no point to defend itself on rejecting the demands of an elected Chief Minister on issues concerning political stability and restoration of peace in the state. This is absolutely Modi government’s indefensible defence on Kashmir crisis.

Ironically BJP presently running the government at the centre under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi is talking much about the Vajpayee doctrine on engagement with the separatists and government of Pakistan but is outrightly rejecting the rising demands of political outreach in Jammu & Kashmir and resumption of dialogue with Pakistan. As of now BJP top brass has put Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti in such a precarious situation that even PDP legislators have started questioning the purpose of continuing alliance with BJP in presence of intolerable provocation of both central and local BJP leadership on host of issues. The rising public anger against the BJP’s provocations has not only disconnected PDP from grass roots in Kashmir but all the mainstream leaders have been rendered irrelevant. Now differences are simmering within the PDP over its present approach on alliance with BJP and before party cadres force Chief Minister to end PDP’s alliance with BJP it is time for BJP top brass to show flexibility on Chief Minister’s demand for political outreach in Jammu & Kashmir and engagement with Pakistan government. As the Chief Minister is the genuine representative of the people of the state in the eyes of the central government, the BJP top brass has no point to defend itself on rejecting the demands of an elected Chief Minister on issues concerning political stability and restoration of peace in the state. This is absolutely Modi government’s indefensible defence on Kashmir crisis.

Dialogue row: A bigger shock to PDP

K H News Service — Mon, 01 May 2017 18:36:08 +0000

With New Delhi making it emphatically clear that no talks whatsoever would be held with separatists in Kashmir, the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) running Jammu & Kashmir government in alliance with BJP is finding itself in a very precarious situation. Not only the central government commanded and controlled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi but BJP President Amit Shah too during his recent two day visit in Jammu made it clear that central government won’t carry out dialogue with the separatist leadership in Kashmir. Interestingly
central government’s assertions that talks cannot be held with separatists and full endorsement of this assertion of the central government goes against the agenda of alliance scripted between PDP and BJP for running the affairs of the state. In the e Agenda of Alliance the BJP has committed itself to hold talks with separatists and also with Pakistan and now the negation of the same by both the BJP and the Modi government have rendered Mehbooba Mufti led Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) faceless. Repeated assertions of BJP and Modi government on the rejection of dialogue with the separatist is a big blow to PDP presently facing a huge challenge in the proposed by elections for Anantnag parliamentary constituency.

Though PDP has been resisting temptations from opposition parties particularly National Conference and Congress on shelving party’s political agenda, but now the PDP Minister has been pushed to wall by BJP the ally.

Though several PDP leaders including the likes of Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari and Peerzada Mansoor Hussain andwant Mehbooba have publicly challenged the contentions of BJP Chief Amit Shah, BJP’s All India General Secretary Ram Madhav and senior BJP minister in the Mehbooba government Chander Prakash Ganga to create an impression that PDP is not going to buckle under the pressure and give up its demand for dialogue with the separatist leadership in Kashmir and also the Pakistan government but the central government commanded and controlled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has put Mehbooba’s PDP to a huge political embarrassment in Kashmir. PDP a Kashmir based party has been rendered faceless by the repeated statements of the top BJP leaders and Home Minister Rajnath Singh against dialogue with the separatist leadership in Kashmir and resumption of bilateral talks with the Pakistan government. It was in the backdrop of this latest controversy that BJP’s General Secretary Ram Madhav in a meeting with Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti discussed the working of coalition government in the state, but PDP’s concern is the reconnection of the party cadres with the people at grass roots and more so the time when bye elections for Anantnag parliamentary constituency are scheduled to be held May 25. Though PDP has been resisting temptations from opposition parties particularly National Conference and Congress on shelving party’s political agenda, but now the PDP Minister has been pushed to wall by BJP the ally.

UP CM Yogi Adityanath sends legal notice to NC Spokesperson

K H News Service — Wed, 05 Apr 2017 21:21:34 +0000

Srinagar/April 5: UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has sent a legal notice of defamation to National Conference State Spokesperson Junaid Azim Mattu through Counsel for Government of India, Dr. Abhishek Atrey for “a habit of spreading hate against the Bhartiya Janta Party” and “spreading false stories against Mahant Yogi Adityanath by blaming him that he asked Hindus to rape dead Muslim women”.
The legal notice alleges that Junaid Mattu has made “such statements to cause intentional hatred amongst people towards the Party and the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, who have formed the present Government, thereby directly inciting hatred against the State Government, hence, seditious in nature”.
“In light of the above facts and circumstances, I request you to forthwith publish an apology in favour of Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) and the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Mahant Yogi Adityanath. On failure to do the needful within two weeks of receiving this notice the undersigned will be forced to proceed with the legal action against you”, the legal notice states.
Speaking to reporters and party workers on the issue, National Conference Leader and Spokesperson Junaid Mattu has said that he won’t be deterred by such cowardly acts. “Those who have openly incited violence against Muslims are ironically sending a legal notice to me for defamation. It seems Mahant Yogi Adityanath has mistaken notoriety for reputation. He has used intimidation and harassment as a political weapon in Uttar Pradesh. He has openly threatened Muslims of serious consequences and defamed them. I will respond to this notice legally through my lawyers. They are examining the legal notice and will respond appropriately”, Junaid said.
“BJP is anti-minority and especially an anti-Muslim party and believes in having a selective morality. It encourages hate-speech as it finds it politically expedient and has the audacity to hold others to completely different standards. I am proud of my identity as a Kashmiri and as a Muslim and National Conference is committed to mounting a strong, unapologetic fight against this forces of tyranny, oppression and bigotry. Mahant Yogi Adityanath, his party and his followers should have doubts about this – we are not going to bow down in front of their tyranny”, the NC Spokesperson added.
On being asked about the intent to seek the imposition of the charge of sedition against him, Junaid Mattu said speaking the truth and opposing communalism can’t be sedition. “If standing up to bullies and hate-mongering is ‘seditious’ then one has to be proud of it. I’m not scared of these legal threats – sedition or no sedition. We will respond strongly, unapologetically and legally”, the NC Spokesperson said.

LC Polls: BJP gets 2, PDP and NC get one each

K H News Service — Mon, 03 Apr 2017 20:32:53 +0000

Jammu/April, 3: On the last date for withdrawal of the candidature for the biennial elections to the Legislative Council Monday, four candidates made their entry to the Upper House as they were declared elected unopposed by the Secretary Legislative Assembly, who is also the Returning Officer for these elections.
Yasir Reshi, G L Raina, Aga Syed Mehmood and Pradeep Sharma who were in the straight contest were declared elected unopposed.
Pradeep Sharma (BJP) won against Poonch seat, where as Aga Syed Mehmood of (NC), G L Raina (BJP) and Yasir Reshi of (PDP) from Kashmir.
Earlier, one Ashok Kumar Bhat, who had filed the nomination papers for Kashmir Province withdrew his candidature thus leaving Yasir Reshi, G L Raina and Aga Syed Mehmood only contesting candidates against equal number of vacancies and were declared unopposed.
While declaring these candidates elected unopposed, the Returning Officer of the Elections, Mohammad Ramzan granted them the Certificates of Election as Members to the Upper House.
Legislators, Choudhary Sukhnandan Kumar, Rajeev Jasrotia, Surinder Ambardar and large number of supporters of the candidates were present on the occasion.