Defence Minister Rajnath Singh stated that Assembly elections in the UT of J&K might take place at any time and that the party should get ready for them despite not providing a specific date for when they will take place.
While on a one-day visit to Jammu to speak at a JKPF event, Rajnath Singh made this statement. Later, in an informal gathering with party members at the BJP headquarters in Trikuta Nagar, he responded to a question from a senior party official and former minister asking whether or not the Assembly elections in J&K would take place in 2024 or sooner, Excelsior reported.
Without holding back, the defence minister declared, “The elections will be held on schedule and may be before 2024 as the election process is ongoing at the party level.” It also stated that the BJP leaders were keen to learn when the UT Assembly elections would take place.
According to Excelsior, the senior party leaders present at the meeting, including UT President Ravinder Raina, former Ministers, party general secretaries, party general secretary (Org) Ashok Koul, former presidents, MPs, and heads of Morchas, raised a number of concerns about the current political, economic, security, and party situations as well as issues pertaining to the development of the UT.
They also said that political consultants should be appointed in the UT to help the administration live up to public expectations. Some party members believed that because the administration frequently fails to adequately address the concerns of the people, a gap had developed between them and the government.
Some senior leaders stated that the administration itself is not reacting to the public-interest problems that party leaders have also brought to their attention. However, it said, Rajnath Singh suggested that some of the party’s senior four to five leaders meet with the Lt. Governor, a seasoned politician, and discuss the issues with him.
During the meeting, some BJP leaders brought up the subject of reservation of PoJK refugees in the Assembly, and the Union Minister promised to bring it up with the Union Home Minister, Amit Shah, sources said.
It also stated that the Enemy Property Act was brought up for discussion, and some participants desired that, following the repeal of Article 370, the owners of the evacuees’ land receive the same property rights that are common in other regions of the nation bordering Pakistan. According to Rajnath Singh, he will discuss the matter with the Union Home Minister.
Some party leaders also brought up the issue of Jammu-based SC employees and their security, in addition to the PM package employees and other minority employees working in Kashmir valley who became the target of targeted assassinations over the past year. The BJP officials said that there are 20,000 minority employees working in the Valley, including those from the SC group, and that housing must be built for them in secure regions.
A senior party official stated that just 1000 of the 6000 accommodations that Rajnath Singh approved for construction while he was the home minister have been completed. He asked that the building of these quarters be expedited and given to a defence agency that could construct them on a war footing level, according to sources.
The Defence Minister promised that the compensation issue for border communities whose land has been fenced off by the Army will be resolved.
Rajnath Singh stated that after eight years of the Narendra Modi administration, India is now acknowledged as a major world force. We are now respected and acknowledged as a power, he continued.
Before Rajnath Singh arrived at the party headquarters, Ravinder Raina, the president of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Jammu and Kashmir, gave him a warm welcome.
Rajnath Singh was joined by Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh when he went to the party office.
Additionally, Singh spoke about the effective political system in Jammu & Kashmir as well as the region’s potential expansion and development.
He said that unprecedented growth has occurred under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s strong and resolute leadership, with an empathic approach to every society’s neglected groups.
He said that Modi had broken records by working tirelessly and completely selflessly to lift the country to new heights. He continued, “India not only successfully navigated the COVID pandemic times because to the unwavering efforts of the Modi Government, but it is also currently leading the globe in every significant matter.
“As a leader on a global level, Modi has proved how to handle the worst case scenario and lead the nation out of a difficult period. By communicating with Russia, Ukraine, and America, he demonstrated excellent maturity and orchestrated the safe departure of Indian students from the war-torn Ukraine, Singh continued.
Earlier, Ravinder Raina welcomed the defence minister, reminisced, and expressed gratitude for Singh’s contributions to a variety of political and organisational issues pertaining to Jammu & Kashmir, particularly during his time serving as the party’s national president.
Rajnath Singh also spoke with party leaders, who unanimously praised the Modi Administration for its bold decision to repeal Articles 370 and 35(A) as well as the efforts of the Union Government led by Modi in accelerating development in J&K.
The Chenab Times News Desk