BJP plans massive outreach in Kashmir once ‘normalcy returns’

Vibha Sharma
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, August 20 

Bharatiya Janata Party is planning to organise at outreach programme in Kashmir once “normalcy returns” to the newly carved union territory.   

Days after the central government did away with Articles 370 and 35-A, provisions that gave special status to the state, and redrew boundaries to divide it into two union territories—Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh—the BJP is already planning ahead. Its planned outreach includes highlighting the Centre’s programmes for economic and the socially weaker sections of the country, farmers and women.

 “The Narendra Modi government has undertaken historical efforts to uplift 50 crore poor people of the country. It is also working on a major outreach to minorities through a slew of programmes like building educational infrastructure, girls’ education and scholarship scheme,” a source in the BJP said. “Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi is working on this outreach programmes based on education, employment/ self-employment and empowerment of minorities throughout the country all of which needs to be told to people of Kashmir.”

Also on the BJP’s agenda is the central government’s decision to scrap Article 370—a controversial provision the BJP has long opposed.  

“That Article 370 was a curse for the state is also something the people there need to know. The Centre’s move will not just bring them to the mainstream but also help the State, ravaged by terrorism, flourish. The special status was actually an impediment to its development,” the BJP leader said, adding that the Centre will also launch and fast-track development programmes to attract investments.

For now, however, the newly carved union territory still faces some of the restrictions and communication blackout that were put in place before BJP’s Amit Shah, the union home minister, made the announcement on August 5.