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| BJP didn't release poll manifesto as it talked about Article 370: Hari Om | | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Dec 30: Dispelling the misinformed notion across the country that J&K BJP didn't prepare manifesto for the 2014 assembly elections, former political advisor to state BJP president Prof Hari Om on Wednesday set the record straight, saying the party did get election manifesto prepared, approved and printed well on time.
"The BJP high command decided not to release the election manifesto only after Hina Bhat of Kashmir threatened on November 14 in Srinagar through electronic media that she will pick up gun in case the BJP tinkered with Article 370 or made it an election issue," revealed Om in a written statement issued here today. Hina Bhat, Om said, had claimed that "there will be no reference to Article 370 in the election manifesto". "I was the chairman of the J&K election manifesto committee and its members were party's spokespersons Sunil Sethi and Nirmal Kamal. Another senior party leader Mohan Singh Chohan also remained associated with us.
It took me more than 30 days to prepare manifesto, which was approved by the election campaign committee, party's core committee, election management committee and all other top bodies of the party. The election manifesto referred to the stand the then party's Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi took on Article 370 at Lalkar Rally in Jammu on December 1, 2013 and it said the BJP will organize debate on the Article to find if it had benefited or harmed the state and its people. It will be abrogated if found that it had harmed the people of the state. It was after an 'emergency meeting' between three of us, including J&K BJP general secretary (organization) Ashok Koul and Sunil Sethi, at the BJP's "War Room" in Gandhi Nagar that it was finally decided to pursue the Prime Minister's line. It was only thereafter that the drafted and duly-approved election manifesto was got printed," revealed Prof Om.
"The party high command decided not to release the manifesto only to appease Kashmir and hoping that it will open its account in the Valley, which was not to happen as the PDP, the NC and the Congress and separatists of all varieties, including Syed Ali Shah Geelani, had joined hands against the BJP and told the Kashmiri people that the victory of the BJP even in one assembly constituency in the Valley will jeopardize the Kashmiri cause and help RSS implement its 'communal agenda' in Kashmir," claimed Prof Om.
"In between, one senior party leader from New Delhi had also ranged me up to tell that I should not speak on Article 370, as 'we had decided to not make it an election issue'. He asked me not to issue any statement or give any interview to any paper on Article 370 after my comprehensive statement on it was published in a Kashmir-based English language daily and my interview on it was published in a leading English language national daily. So, it was clear that the BJP had decided to give up its age-old demand seeking abrogation of Article 370," said Prof Om.
That the BJP had taken a complete U-turn on its stand on Article 370 became clear on March 1, 2015, when the PDP Chief Minister and BJP Deputy Chief Minister released the roundly condemned agenda of alliance, he said, adding the agenda of alliance not only defended Article 370 and the state's special status but also empowered the PDP-led coalition government to facilitate dialogue process between India and Pakistan and take Hurriyat leadership on board. He further disclosed that the decision of the party high command to not release the manifesto, which had also said many things about Jammu and its pressing needs and the causes of neglect and marginalization of this region, had shocked the local leadership and party cadres.
All this should call the BJP's bluff and set the record straight, he said, adding that he also endorsed the general view in the country that "the BJP's only ideology is power" and that "it can go to any extent for the sake of it". Its vague stand on the recent High Court's rulings on state flag and office of Sadar-e-Riyasat should also be viewed in this context. |
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