Press Statement issued by BJP National Spokesperson and MP
Shri Prakash Javadekar

Over the last one week we have witnessed several major incidences, which the nation needs to take serious note of. Firstly, there has been the mass exodus of Non-Kashmiri labourers from the valley because of the continuous threats from the separatists. The Government instead of acting tough against those who are issuing such threats, on the contrary is arranging extra buses to carry the Non-Kashmiri labourers out of the valley. What is even worse is that the government itself has sent back from Srinagar more than 1,000 state government employees, who belong to Jammu. The Non-Kashmiri engineering and medical students have also been forced out of the valley in hundreds. Secondly, India's national flag was burnt on the 15th August at thousands of places and the Union Home Secretary has shockingly described the incidences as casual. Thirdly, the Uri power plant was attacked by terrorists on 12th and 13th of August, 2008 demanding that power should not go out of the valley to rest of the country. Fourthly, black out was observed on Independence Day and what is even more surprising is that government buildings also observed the black out by not putting up lights. Fifthly, there were attacks on drivers and cleaners of hundreds of trucks carrying essential supplies to the valley. The latest figures have completely exposed the false bogey of the separatists that the valley is reeling under a so called "Economic Blockade". In July 2008 a total of 2300 trucks went to the valley in comparison of 2000 trucks in July 2007.

The situation in Jammu and Kashmir is deteriorating for the worse because of a complete lack of vision and political will on the part of the Congress led UPA government. Its omissions and commissions without any clear cut policy direction have led to this current situation and impasse.

The Bharatiya Janata Party demands immediate negotiated settlement on the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board land issue. More the delay, more it will harm the integrity of the country. The Government must address the nationalist aspirations and not buckle under the pressure of separatists.

The BJP demands that India must protest strongly with Pakistan about their continued interventions in the internal affairs of India. The Pakistan National Assembly resolution demanding plebiscite is totally unacceptable and condemnable. When India has not reacted to President Musharraf's resignation as it is an internal matter, Pakistan is expected to reciprocate similarly.

The BJP condemns in the strongest possible words and demands strong action against Arundhati Roy as her irresponsible utterances amount to nothing less than sedition. When she says that Kashmir needs Azadi from India and India needs Azadi from Kashmir, our response is that India can live without Arundhati but not without Kashmir.

The BJP has mobilized hundreds of thousand people across the country who will court arrest tomorrow on 21st August, 2008 to protest against the policies of the UPA government regarding the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board issue and demands immediate restoration of the land to the Shrine Board.

(Shyam Jaju)
Headquarter-in-charge