JAMMU, Sept 19: Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh today claimed that an “unholy nexus” exists between Pakistan and certain political parties in Jammu & Kashmir, including Congress, National Conference (NC), and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). He said this nexus has been exposed following a statement made by Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif.
“The cat is out of the bag, and the BJP’s stance over the decades has been vindicated,” Dr. Singh stated during a press conference at the BJP media center in Jammu. The Minister accused these political parties of working in tandem with Pakistan to retain power in the region.
Flanked by former Deputy Chief Minister Kavinder Gupta and J&K BJP spokesperson Arun Gupta, Dr. Jitendra Singh said that Pakistan’s Defence Minister’s statement revealed that Pakistan, NC, Congress, and PDP are on the same page when it comes to restoring Article 370, which granted special status to Jammu & Kashmir. “Our stand has now been vindicated,” Dr. Singh said, while alleging that these parties often acted on directives from Pakistan.
Nexus During Elections
Dr. Jitendra Singh highlighted the pattern of election boycotts in Jammu & Kashmir, claiming they were coordinated by Pakistan and favored NC, Congress, and PDP. He asserted that these parties formed governments with as little as 5-8% voter turnout, which further evidenced their connection with Pakistan.
He added that leaders from these parties were complicit in the unrest and violence in the region. “For years, we have maintained that the instigators of terrorism, separatism, and sectarianism are as guilty as the terrorists themselves and should be prosecuted under the same laws,” Dr. Singh remarked.
Historical Ties with Pakistan
Referring to historical incidents, Dr. Jitendra Singh recounted that National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah had visited Pakistan nearly 50 years ago to meet with Amanullah Khan, a key figure behind the so-called “Azadi” movement in Kashmir. He also cited Abdullah’s post-1987 election remarks, where he reportedly encouraged his cadres to go to Pakistan for arms training after a disputed election led to rising tensions in the region.
BJP’s Resolve
Dr. Singh made it clear that the BJP would not allow the region to return to an era of militancy and unrest. “These parties want to push J&K back into an era of turmoil, but BJP will not let that happen,” he said, stressing that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s efforts to restore peace in the region will not be undermined.
“At any cost, the BJP will not allow Congress and NC to throw Jammu & Kashmir back into the same era of terrorism. Prime Minister Modi has painstakingly pulled Jammu & Kashmir out of that mayhem, and it is our responsibility to prevent these vested interests from reversing the progress,” Dr. Singh concluded.
