No Valley party banned; administration to decide on detained leaders: Khanna

SRINAGAR: Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) National Vice President Avinash Rai Khanna on Friday said that no political party in Jammu and Kashmir has been barred from carrying out political activities, while asserting that the local administration will decide the fate of detained leaders.

Khanna, also the incharge for Jammu and Kashmir, made these remarks during a youth convention ogranised by the party to gain support from the Kashmir over the Citizenship Amendment Act.

Khanna said opposition parties were running a malicious campaign in Kashmir that post abrogation of Article 370 the valley's youth would resort to violence to fight against the Indian government.

"It has been over five months since Article 370 was scrapped, nothing of that sort happened here. Though some youth may be misguided but their number is very less," he said.

He said that BJP was committed to serve J&K and CAA was a step in that direction.

"Today, there are placards and banners all around this place that display slogans like 'Kashmir stands with CAA'. This law is not against any religion, caste or creed as projected by opposition parties," Khanna said.

Denying any sort of restrictions on some leaders of certain political parties in Valley, Khanna said everyone is allowed to move freely in the region as per the law.

“No party has been banned. No leader has been barred, except for some of them due to security reason. But their cadre is out and free. If anyone comes and spread the good message they are most welcome. However, some parties are not ready to come out.

“The mainstream parties of Jammu and Kashmir should have represented the people, instead of boycotting municipal election. By boycotting the election, political parties are trying to create obstructions. They do not want the new leaders to be born at village level”, said Khanna.

On the detained political leaders, Khanna said that the law will take its own course and the local administration will decide on their release on appropriate time.

Khanna said that BJP have been working on “Sab Ka Sath, Sab ka Vikas” policy across the country.

“Kashmir is going to witness a new development and progress will reach every corner of the valley. The prime example of developmental agenda of BJP is the ongoing visit of the Union Ministers heading various departments to Jammu and Kashmir. I am pretty sure their visit will bring fruitful results,” he said.

38 Union ministers on Friday concluded their J&K visit which was a part of the BJP's outreach programme. During the outreach programme, the ministers inaugurated developmental projects and interacted with various segments of society and apprised them about the central schemes.

“BJP respects the sentiments of people of Jammu and Kashmir and will keep the demography and demand in tact while taking decision of securing lands and jobs of the residents here”, Khanna said in the event organized at Tagore Hall Srinagar.

During the event, dozens of youth joined the BJP.

Khanna said a majority of youth in Kashmir is ready to join the mainstream and I am happy to welcome dozens of highly qualified Kashmiri youth into the BJP as they are our future.

“Opposition parties used to say that Kashmiri youth are angry and against the Centre's policies. I want to say that not all Kashmiri youth are misguided. Dozens are ready to join the mainstream and make politics their career as evident today," he said.