Early Times Report
JAMMU, June 10: All is not well with the J&K unit of the BJP. A number of BJP lawmakers have, according to insiders, "revolted against the BJP leadership and its policies, particularly its policies towards the people of Jammu province". Things in the local unit have deteriorated to the extent that at least two BJP MLAs - one from Kathua and another from Ramban -- have openly challenged the BJP leadership, saying "there is no justification to sit in the assembly if we do not have the right to speak, oppose and fight for their constituencies, which elected them for their welfare and development".
Sources close to the state BJP president Sat Sharma revealed on the condition of anonymity that the "state BJP president has taken strong exception to the role being played by these two MLAs in the assembly" and that "he has threatened action, particularly against MLA from Kathua, Rajeev Jasrotia".
"Rajeev Jasrotia was been embarrassing the party and the party ministers in the assembly on a daily basis by raking up Jammu-specific issues, as also by pinpointing the areas in which the government has accorded a shabby treatment to the people of Jammu province. First, he criticized the state government on the floor of the assembly on the ground that the authorities earmarked Rs 600 crore for road development in the Valley and only Rs 100 crore for the Jammu province. Then, he demanded implementation of the Singhal Committee report that had recommended that all the Jammu-based professional colleges be made the sole preserve of Jammu youth. And, on Thursday, he crossed all the lines by entering the well of the House and staging walkout. He caused embarrassment to the BJP by criticizing the criteria under which Kashmir got 7 stadiums, Jammu 3 and Ladakh 2," sources close to Sat Sharma told the Early Times.
"Sat Sharma on Thursday met with Jasrotia and warned him that action will be taken against him in case he continued to behave irresponsibly in the assembly," the very credible sources in the party revealed, adding that "Jasrotia told Sat Sharma on his face that he was prepared to face any kind of action and that he represented the real BJP and not he and others of his ilk in the party". "My grandfather and grandmother served the Jan Sangh for decades; I belong to that family and I can't ditch my ancestors, the party and my constituency," sources further said, and added that "party leadership has contemplated action against him".
All this should serve to demonstrate that there are MLAs in the BJP who could precipitate the matters in case any action is taken against them. |
