Image Courtesy:thelegitimatenews.com
“Waseem Bari and his entire family have been very good workers of our party, and the way he was killed by terrorists has hurt us a lot. We came here to condole, and give immediate help to the family [of Waseem Bari]. All the leaders and workers of Bharatiya Janata Party stand with the party workers here in this tough situation. We hope no one else has to make such a sacrifice. Those who have done this [killings] should be tracked neutralised soon, is our appeal,” BJP general secretary, Ram Madhav who is also in charge of Jammu and Kashmir did not mince words when he visited Kashmir on Sunday.
“We came here for immediate help to the family of Waseem Bari. All the national leaders of BJP stand with the party workers in this grave situation.We also appeal that all those who are involved in this incident should be neutralised soon,” BJP General Secretary, @rammadhavbjp pic.twitter.com/vMVjnhhkY1
— Kashmir Dot Com (@kashmirdotcom) July 12, 2020
A week after Bharatiya Janata Party leader Sheikh Waseem Bari, his father and brother were gunned down in a militant attack, in Bandipore District near their home in Kashmir, Ram Madhav was the first senior leader of the party, along with Union Minister Jitendra Singh to visit the bereaved family.
The 27-year-old politician had 10 cops, including eight security commandos guarding him when he was gunned down outside his shop and home near the Bandipore Police Station. His father and brother were also killed in the same attack. Bari was the District President of the party. Hours later, around 10 policemen assigned to his security detail were arrested for their alleged negligence in protecting the leader, and his family. Speaking about the security for local politicians, Madhav said, “Whatever security measures are required, it is being done by authorities… Security arrangement was also made for our martyr Waseem Bari, but there was some mistake because of which tragedy took place. Authorities will definitely take action. Not only our workers, administration is making preparations to provide required security to all political workers.”
Union minister @DrJitendraSingh, BJP National General Secretary @rammadhavbjp along with other party leaders visits residence of slain BJP leader Wasim Bari in Bandipora North Kashmir. pic.twitter.com/fetCcZDLJC
— The RealKashmir News (@TheRealKashmir_) July 12, 2020
These killings, of a local political leader in the Kashmir Valley, were a month after the Congress Party’s sarpanch Ajay Pandita was gunned down on June 8, 2020. Both incidents shook the UT’s political establishment across party lines.
Visited Bandipora, Kashmir today together with MoS Dr Jitendra Singh to meet the wife n family members of martyred BJP leader Wasim Bari and his father and brother and condole their demise. Offered financial assistance from the party side. Child in my lap is Wasim’s 2 yr daughter pic.twitter.com/MGsAWxSAWi
— Ram Madhav (@rammadhavbjp) July 12, 2020
Ram Madhav’s strong statement on Sunday is also an indication of the renewal of the political battle in the Union Territory. Madhav has also said that the Legislative Assembly will be formed only after the delimitation exercise is complete in the Union Territory. While this is the first big political announcement since the abolition of article 370 and the creation of the UT, Madhav also gave talking points to the other party workers and took a no hold barred dig at the regional parties National Conference (NC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), saying they were just “scared and making excuses. These people are scared. They do not want to take part in the political process that is ongoing. Will they start political activities only when elections are announced? There were panchayat elections, mandal elections, so why did they not take part in those?”
Shri @rammadhavbjp ji in #Bandipora at condolences to the bereaved family of #WaseemBari. @BJP4India @BJP4JnK @BJPLive pic.twitter.com/ID9HHi7qMF
— Gulistan News (@GulistanNewsTV) July 12, 2020
Madhav asserted that now, when there was a martyrdom, was the time for regional parties to come forth. “Those who are saying there is no political process in the Valley, are the ones responsible for it”, he said the BJP is doing its best but wants local parties to come forward too. According to a report in the Indian Express Madhav also spoke to the media in Srinagar and said ”…this time priority is to first fight COVID-19 now, then delimitation exercise will take place and then for UT, legislative Assembly will be formed. At an appropriate time, the government of India will decide about other matters as well.”
These political statements can be read as a response to the comments made by veteran leader Farooq Abdullah who had recently said that his focus may now be on seeking a reversal of the decision scrapping Article 370 and 35A of the Indian Constitution. He had called the domicile law “unconstitutional” and said it was “not acceptable” to him. “When we are saying that we are united against everything that they have done, which is illegal, unconstitutional, how do you think am I going to accept what is unconstitutional,” had been quoted in news reports.
Meanwhile, a strict lockdown has been imposed in Srinagar as there has been a surge in Covid-19 cases in the Valley.
Authorities imposed restrictions in city-centre Lal Chowk to enforce lockdown amid surge in COVID19 cases in Srinagar.
Camera?| Shah Jehangir #KashmirMirror pic.twitter.com/VlcULMz0Sr
— Kashmir Mirror (@Kashmir_Mirror) July 13, 2020
A move that was criticised by Mehbooba Mufti’s party PDP, via her social media handle, “Last week, J&K admin threw open parks in Kashmir & decided to go ahead with Amarnath Yatra despite a spate of COVID cases. Which is why today’s directive to reimpose lockdown is baffling & emblematic of their rudderless approach”
Last week, J&K admin threw open parks in Kashmir & decided to go ahead with Amarnath Yatra despite spate of COVID cases. Which is why today’s directive to reimpose lockdown is baffling & emblematic of their rudderless approach
— Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) July 12, 2020
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