Kashmir BJP too rile against Ministers, Ram Lal feels 'underwater currents'

Chairs series of meeting in valley, calls on Guv-CM

JAMMU: Aftermath reported resentment against Bharatiya Janata Party from its fortress in state- Jammu region, now BJP's National General Secretary (Organisation) Ram Lal felt the similar kind of ripples underneath the water while chairing a series of meeting with party leaders in Kashmir valley, the party sources said.
According to high placed sources within the saffron party, BJP National General Secretary (Org) Ram Lal, purposely sent to Jammu and Kashmir by the high-command to have a firsthand review of the situation about alleged increasing gap among party-cadre, party's Ministers in ruling coalition and party's leadership in the state, noted the tremors in valley on the second day of his visit here.
Ram Lal, who arrived Srinagar this morning along with BJP state president Sat Sharma was joined by party's national vice-president and incharge BJP affairs in J&K, Avinash Rai Khanna, as Lal chaired a series of meetings in the Valley on Monday wherein visiting leader took detailed feedback from party workers and leadership. Lal held meetings with representatives of OBCs and senior leaders from Kashmir besides district presidents of BJP from Valley, where the leadership from Kashmir reportedly has shown strong resentment against the BJP ministers.
"There have been reports that a strong resentment is brewing among party workers," party sources added.
They said, "BJP leaders and workers during face-to-face interaction told Ram Lal - the visiting party feeler- that ministers in chair are not in touch with them."
"They hardly meet people in their offices or official residences and it is only their few blue-eyed close aides who always accompanied them; whereas the PDP ministers are taking well care of its cadre, which is going against the BJP in Kashmir," said a senior BJP leader from Kashmir on condition of anonymity, further adding that it is a fact and if BJP ministers continues such attitude, how will the party put its strong stakes in the Valley, which is a dream of PM Modi and party president Amit Shah.
"Though, all the ministers belong to Jammu region, they represent the entire state and not only a particular province, where too people are showing resentment against them," the BJP leader from valley said, while making a relative comparison ministers from coalition ally, added that ministers of our ally are doing well care of their leaders and cadre.
Meanwhile sources said that Ram Lal gave a patient ear to all such stuff and noted down the basic issues, which are common in Jammu as well in Kashmir, taking a serious note of the same during his conclusion meeting with BJP ministers, late Monday evening.
The BJP senior leader also said that BJP is having independent government in 15 states and coalitions in three states, however where CM is from other political party, it may translates into the fact that BJP is not completely in action, so some issues may also crop up in such case.
"But PDP-BJP coalition is doing well in the state and it will complete its full tenure," Lal maintained. However, he neither denied nor opened the cards which he kept close to his chest when asked about any options of reshuffle in BJP ministers.
Earlier, Lal started his day in Kashmir with alp-Vistarak meeting which was also attended by Avinash Rai Khanna, Sat Sharma and Deputy CM Dr Nirmal Singh, state General Secretary (Org) Ashok Kaul, State general Secretary Dr Narendra Singh, BJYM state president Dr Suresh Ajay Mangrotra, party MLCs from Kashmir Sofi Yousuf and other legislators namely Ramesh Arora, Charanjeet Singh Khalsa, Sruinder Amberdar, Girdari Lal Raina; Vice- Chairmen Khalid Jehangir, Dr Ali and Daljeet Singh.
During his stay in valley, Ram Lal also called on Governor NN Vohra Monday afternoon and also met with Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti in the evening. He discussed the working of the state government and also the situation in the state.
Lal also highlighted that BJP leadership is concerned about the situation in Kashmir and especially the NIA raids in the Valley on terror-funding and downsize the stone pelting incidents and anti-security forces protests.
Ram Lal, while interacting with the leaders asked party men to connect with general public, participate in public welfare measures including plantation drive, cleaning drive and other social activities. He said party has a mission and world over has recognized the popularity of Narendra Modi, who is the leader of masses.
The Ram Lal also coined a new slogan 'Gareebo ke neta, Narendra Modi' and asked party workers to use it frequently in the events.
"Modi talks of one hundred thirty crore people of the country without any discrimination of creed, cast and gender," he said, adding, Modi doesn't discriminate against any region.
Ram Lal will fly back to New Delhi on Tuesday morning and submit his report to BJP chief Amit Shah, while BJP national general secretary, Ram Madhav will visit J&K on September 23-24.