Modi, Singh, Shah keep Kashmir story hot, making mahagathbandan to pay for Omar

JAMMU: With questions being raised on politicisation of armed forces and their gallant operations for votes, the top BJP leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Rajnath Singh and party chief Amit Shah have made the politics of Kashmir as central theme of their campaign across the country.

Since National Conference is part of the Congress led so called mahagathbandan, the BJP top trio are seen invoking Omar Abdullah, in almost every rally their address, to pin down the state specific rivals.

Prime Minister Modi is spending considerable time of his speech on Kashmir in every such state which has significant position of Congress or other opposition parties. In Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal he focused on the issue of two Prime Minister with reference to NC leader Omar Abdullah’s remarks earlier this month.

On Friday, intensifying his campaign blitz in Karnataka, Modi asserted there was a wave across the country for the return of the BJP-led NDA government in the Lok Sabha polls, which was between "Rashtravad (nationalism) and Pariwarvad (dynasty)."

He lashed out at the Deve Gowda family and the Janta Dal (Secular). Accusing Congress and JD(S) of being against "Rashtrawadis" and those protecting the country, Modi said they don't feel ashamed in standing with those shouting slogans 'Bharat tere tukde honge' and dream about it. The Prime Minister said such people stand with those supporting the secession of Jammu Kashmir from the country.

Home Minister Rajnath Singh, who campaigned in Gujarat today, also focused his speeches on Kashmir. He attacked Omar Abdullah over his demand for a separate prime minister for the region.

"I want to tell these leaders that if you continue to raise such demands, then we will be left with no other option than to abrogate Articles 370 and 35A of the Constitution. We dont want such India," said Singh.

He also blamed former PM Jawaharlal Nehru for the Kashmir crisis.

"Had Pandit Nehru given full powers to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel to handle the issue, we might have got a solution at that time," said Singh.

Addressing an election rally in Dongargaon town in Rajnandgaon Lok Sabha constituency of Chhattisgarh, BJP chief Amit Shah sought to know whether Congress chief Rahul Gandhi supported National Conference leader Omar Abdullah's demand for having a separate prime minister for Jammu and Kashmir.

Slamming Omar Abdullah over his demand for separate PM for Jammu and Kashmir, the BJP chief said Kashmir cannot be separated from India till the last BJP worker was alive.

"Omar Abdullah has advocated for a prime minister in Kashmir. Do you think it is possible that a country can have two PMs? They wanted to separate Kashmir from India.

"Rahul Gandhi is silent over it. He should clarify whether he supports or opposes Abdullah's statement," Shah said, adding, "Kashmir cannot be separated from India till the last BJP worker is alive."

Taking a dig at the Congress, the BJP leader claimed sadness gripped the grand old party and Pakistan following the air strikes over terror camps in Balakot in retaliation to the Pulwama terror attack.

"During the 10 years of UPA rule, when terror attacks happened, no reply was given. But when Pulwama terror attack took place, the Indian Air Force carried out air strike and demolished the terror camps inside Pakistan," he said.

"When the entire country celebrated the air strike, there was grief in Pakistan and in the office of Congress," Shah claimed.

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