Join PM's hand for development of J&K: BJP to separatists

A day after former separatist leader Sajjad Lone met Narendra Modi, BJP today the doors of the Prime Minister were open for the secessionists if they join the national mainstream and the party would welcome all to join his efforts for the development of Jammu and Kashmir

Srinagar: A day after former separatist leader Sajjad Lone met Narendra Modi, BJP today the doors of the Prime Minister were open for the secessionists if they join the national mainstream and the party would welcome all to join his efforts for the development of Jammu and Kashmir.

"We welcome all to join the efforts of the Prime Minister for the development of Jammu and Kashmir. You (separatists) give up separatism and come forward, the doors of the Prime Minister are open for you. "Through separatism, you are meeting the Prime Minister of Pakistan or its High Commissioner here. Come into national mainstream, the doors of your own Prime Minister are open," BJP national general secretary Ram Madhav told reporters here.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi

He said development of the state was very high on the Prime Minister's agenda and all "well-intentioned" people, for
whom the development of Kashmir was of prime importance, should come forward to join his hands. On his meetings with the leaders of various small parties, Madhav said he had met them with a message of development.

"On earlier occasions when I came here, I tried to talk to people who would be interested in strengthening the hands of Modi and help to develop Kashmir Valley, tourism, and turn Srinagar into a major tourist destination, provide employment to people here, develop economic activity and industrialisation here.

"that was the message with which I came here on the earlier occasions. But now I came here purely for electoral purposes. I have met several people and I don't want to discuss all that now," he said. Madhav said the party want such a government in the state which can move forward shoulder-to-shoulder with the Prime Minister.

"We have to rebuild the valley after the floods and do a lot of work for the rehabilitation of the affected people." Madhav said the party was contesting the Assembly polls on its own and Lone's meeting with Modi should not be seen as that of having a pre-poll alliance.

"Be clear that we are contesting the elections on our own. We are contesting on many seats in the state and we hope to win maximum number of them, both in Jammu and Kashmir divisions including Ladakh. The talk of alliances and all will only be after the polls. Our aim is to relieve the state of dynastic rule of both NC and PDP," he said.

Madhav, a former RSS spokesperson who joined BJP recently, said the purpose of his two-day visit to the Valley was to encourage party candidates to secure good number of seats. He said any person belonging to the state can become the chief minister regardless of his religion or caste.

The BJP national general secretary, however, evaded questions on the party's demand of revocation of Article 370,
saying "BJP state unit will come out with a manifesto and you will get answers to all those questions once it is out".

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