JK News Today Special Commentary
In the first list of 44 candidates released by BJP for the three-phase Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir , the most remarkable feature is that the party is asserting its position in the Kashmir Valley ,where it was subjected to a lot of taunt for not fielding candidates during the Lok Sabha elections this year. It has silenced the critics that were charging it with escaping the contest .
The message is , the party is back with a bang and will prove its point against all those who have started repeddling the narrative of sanctity of Article 370, linking it to the identity and dignity of the people and place . In essence , the names and faces in the list are an extension of all-inclusive policy epitomized by Prime Minister Narendra Modi who has always shown how special J&K is for him , his government and the party .
Union Home Minister Amit Shah whose ministry is running the union territory through Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha , time and again had been laying stress on the ways and means to reach out to all people , without any distinction on the basis of religion and caste or the regional or sub-regional considerations . He has carried on with the mission of PM Modi in involving all sections of society in regaining Paradise on earth that Jammu and Kashmir was once known for its beauty and hospitality.
The most significant is the inclusion of 13 Muslim candidates in the first list spanning over north and south of Pir Panjal , something that would show mirror to the parties that had been accusing BJP of giving no representation to Muslims . The inclusion of 13 Muslim candidates in the list of 44 , which is nearly one-third of the candidates , the party has shown that it is for all the communities and ethnic groups . Both Gujjars and Bakerwals and Pahari – the Scheduled tribes find a space in the list , again proving that the BJP which had worked hard to get social justice has not forgotten the marginalized sections at the most crucial times in the history of J&K.
In short, it is reflection of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of Jammu and Kashmir, where all communities matter and matter a lot, and the democratic space is available to all of them. It is a fact that the BJP has released its list and will campaign for their victory , in this list which was prepared and finalized at the Central Election Committee meeting chaired by Prime Minister has sent a message down the line that everyone has place in the party, which is ruling the country for the past 11 years now .
Prime Minister Modi , during his last visit to the Valley on June 20 , had declared all-inclusive policies of his government that is essentially led by BJP and has redefined Kashmir in the eyes of the masses within the Valley and also for the rest of the country, and the world . Kashmir is a hub of all sorts of activities in which the people can breathe fearlessly , moving past of its dark days of shutdowns, guns, bombs, stones and all disruptions . The vision of “ New Kashmir” is on the agenda of BJP, many a milestones have been scaled and more are about to be achieved.
Reality of the times is dawning on the people . A big role in balancing the things in Jammu and Kashmir goes to Ram Madhav , veteran RSS man who was appointed election in-charge of J&K Assembly polls on August 20 . In his two-day long visit of Kashmir , he did what was expected of him to invoke and re-invoke all-inclusive approach of the party in the elections which are being watched closely not only in the country but also at the international level.
In the run up to the polling in three-phases, the release of the list on Monday for all the three-phases, though some constituencies have been left in waiting list, is a big surprise and shock for Congress and also other parties which are yet to make up their mind about their candidates to contest in all these constituencies .
