Jammu, Sept 11:
The J&K BJP Spokesperson, Lt Gen (Retd) Rakesh Sharma, on Wednesday said that Modi Government has broken the back bone of terrorism and separatism in J&K and ensured massive development here.Referring to the statement of former Home Minister in UPA Government, Sushil Kumar Shinde, that he was afraid of going to Kashmir, Rakesh Sharma said that it is the zero tolerance policy of the Modi Government which restored peace in J&K.“If a former Home Minister is saying that he was afraid of going to Kashmir in 2013, then one can well imagine the condition of a common man,” Sharma said, while addressing a press conference at BJP’s media center, here today. Capt Bana Singh (PVC), Capt Swarn Singh (VC) and Dr Pardeep Mahotra, Media Incharge, were also present in the press conference.“The decision to abrogate Article 370 taken on August 05 2019 was a historic decision after which peace was restored in J&K and massive development has been taking place here,” he said.On 2018, he said, there were 228 terror related activities which dropped to 24 in 2023 and in 2014 mere 11 terror related have been witnessed.
Similarly, he said, in 2018, 91 personnel of security forces were martyred, while in 2023, 30 personnel of security forces were martyred. Sharma said that there is 70% decline in terrorism in J&K and now there are no hartals and no stone pelting.He said that BJP’s ‘Sankalp Patra’ has promised several welfare measures for the security forces’ personnel like setting up Sainik Colony in each district, free land for the families of martyrs and free education for the children of martyrs. He also spoke of increasing the scope of the Agnivir, while emphasizing their contribution.Sharma said that the BJP in its ‘Sankalp Patra’ has also promised to wipe out terrorism and separatism completely, setting up fast track courts to give justice to the victims of terrorism, strengthening VDGs, monthly risk allowance to JKP jawans, developing border belt and promoting border tourism, strengthening border security besides addressing the issue of Bangladeshis and Rohingyas living in Jammu.