Srinagar, Jun 17: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is ready for elections and requests the Election Commission of India (ECI) to announce the poll dates as soon as possible, the Party's J&K President Ravinder Rania said on Saturday.
Speaking at an event organised in connection with the celebration of the ‘9 years of Modi government', Raina appealed to the people to give the BJP a chance in J&K.
“I appeal to the people here to give a chance to the BJP. We will work tirelessly for the development and betterment of Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.
Responding to the former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah's recent remarks that the BJP is avoiding elections in J&K, he said, “Today, in front of all of you, I request the Election Commission of India to announce the dates for the assembly elections in J&K. We are fully prepared, and the people will have the final say in the political arena.”
Raina said the “flood of people, including younger and older individuals, here in Srinagar, is a testament to the fact that the BJP will take Jammu and Kashmir to another level”.
He said Kashmir has endured numerous hardships in the past 35 to 40 years. “We have seen with our own eyes the fear and tension gripping every household here. Today, as I witness the crossed paths of Srinagar's Lal Chowk, and the jubilant scenes in Budgam, Kupwara, Bandipora, Pulwama, Shopian, Kulgam, Anantnag, and all the cities, I feel a sense of peace, love, and equality that soothes my heart,” he said.
The J&K BJP president added, “The children have faced tough times as colleges and universities remained closed, leaving students worried. The markets have remained shuttered for almost 10 months each year. When Srinagar's Lal Chowk was enveloped in darkness, and transport came to a halt on the roads, it was the people of Jammu and Kashmir, especially the Muslims, who bore the brunt of these losses.”
For a person to build a house, a shop, or purchase a vehicle for transportation or business purposes, they cannot take loans due to the constant fear of trouble, he said, adding, “Today, we are delighted to witness an atmosphere of peace in Jammu and Kashmir. The people here are joyful and content, living in a state of peace.”
Ravindra Raina also said there is “development” everywhere in J&K. “Today, we witness the remarkable progress in Jammu and Kashmir. In the entire country, there was once only one hospital, the AIIMS Hospital. But now, just a few kilometers away in Awantipora, a significant hospital like AIIMS is being prepared. I would like to congratulate the people of Jammu and Kashmir for this achievement, and express my gratitude to the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi Ji, who not only provided a hospital like AIIMS to Jammu and Kashmir's Awantipora but also invested thousands of crores for its development,” Raina stated.
“It won't be long before the train running from Jammu reaches Srinagar and travels through various parts of Jammu and Kashmir. This will immensely benefit the apple growers, as their produce can now reach Delhi, Bombay, Kolkata, and different countries around the world,” he said.
Raina said in every village, the presence of Panch, Sarpanch, DDC, and BDC is the result of PM Modi's initiatives. He said in the past nine years, PM Modi has undertaken “incredible works here”. He also talked about the Ayushman Bharat scheme and other initiatives taken by the government.
