J-K BJP skirts raking up controversies at party meet

The ruling BJP in Jammu and Kashmir today passed a resolution pledging to ensure rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits in the Valley but avoided any reference to recent controversies like on separate settlements for those displaced by militancy.

In the first meeting of the BJP's state working committee after it came to power for the first time in the state, the party appeared keen not to rock the boat by raking up any controversial issue, including on separatists, and said it would not allow any activity in the state which will be "detrimental to the national interest".

The party also committed to rehabilitation of refugees from West Pakistan and PoK while skirting the issue of their citizenship.

While releasing the resolution adopted by the party during the two-day meeting of the state working committee held in Katra, BJP state chief spokesman Sunil Sethi said Kashmiri Pandits make the "identity of Kashmir complete" and     the party would ensure their rehabilitation in the Valley as per their aspirations.
"It is resolved that the identity of Kashmir is incomplete without Kashmiri Pandits and it will be ensured that they return to the Valley as per the security and safety requirements and that their settlement in Kashmir will be as per their desires, aspirations and practicability," he said.

On the issue of West Pakistan refugees, the party said it would ensure that the refugees are given their rights to livelihood and meaningful living.
Sethi said the party would also resolve to work for the one time settlement of the refugees from the Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK).

The party resolved to show gratitude to the voters of Jammu and Kashmir, who have overwhelmingly voted in "favour of democracy by rejecting all threats and intimidations from organisation and separatism".

"It is resolved that the coalition of PDP and BJP will work for betterment of the people of Jammu and Kashmir by addressing the issue of unemployment, ensuring corruption-free and responsive government," Sethi said.

He said the nationalism in Jammu and Kashmir will be encouraged and no activity will be allowed in the state which will be "detrimental to the national interest".
As per the party sources, the resolution comes days after when the senior party leaders asked the local unit of BJP to keep itself away from controversies and focus on the issues of governance and showcase its achievements to the people of the state.

There has been unease in BJP's ties with the PDP, especially over the release of separatist leader Masarat Alam and on the issue of return of Kashmiri Pandits in the Valley.

Over the issue of West Pakistan refugees, Sethi said "it is further resolved that the West Pakistan refugees will be given their rights to livelihood and meaningful living".
"It is also resolved that the benefits of PoK refugees of 1947, 1965 and 1971 will be resolved by providing one time settlement to all the refugees," he said.

He said the party would work to ensure that equal rights are given to the people of all the three regions of the state.

"It is further resolved that equal rights will be given to people of all regions of the state in the matter of distribution of the funds at the disposal of the state whether self generated or provide by the Central government," Sethi said.

Sethi said the coalition government in the state was formed in the backdrop of the unprecedented floods with an aim to provide succour to the people who had faced damages during the floods.

"The coalition was formed in the backdrop of unprecedented floods in the state and failure of the coalition government of National Conference and Congress to live upto the expectations of the people and a general feelings of let down in the public towards the ruling alliance," he said.

He said people also continued to suffer due to the continuous cross border and cross LoC firing by Pakistan which has increased the plight of people living in border areas.

"There were large scale allegations of corruption, favouritism and nepotism against the previous ruling alliance," he claimed.