P Muralidhar Rao slams DMK, dares party for a debate

CHENNAI: BJP national general secretary P. Muralidhar Rao slammed the DMK for its stance on abrogation of Article 370, which granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir; and accused the Dravidian major of not being bothered about the Dalits and women in J & K.

Daring the DMK and allies for a debate on the abrogation of Article 370, he charged the DMK of indulging in double talk on social justice and gender equality. He sought to know the reason for the DMK and Congress to oppose it, while Bhahujan Samaj Party national president Mayawati supported the abrogation of the Article 370. “It is not the rights of the SC\ST in J & K to avail reservations and benefit? The so-called parties that talk about gender justice or gender equality, do they know that women in J & K are denied equal rights on property?” the BJP leader asked.

Rao contended that the abrogation of the Article 370 besides bifurcation of that state into two Union Territories, would in addition to ensuring progress, provide social justice to the SC\ST there. “What the BJP government has done (abrogation of Article 370) is completely legal and constitutionally valid. And outside also, its our duty to explain the factors which influenced this decision,” Rao said.

“Politically we are challenging our opponents. For instance, in Tamil Nadu, the DMK has opposed the abrogation of Article 370 and organised a protest in New Delhi. We are challenging that in TN we will reach out to every nook and corner of the State and explain our stand. What was the reason for DMK to take up this stance? It should answer,” Rao said.

Speaking to reporters here on Saturday he said in TN, there has been a movement for justice for so long. Social equality in democracy means equitable participation and justice for all. “What is the explanation of the DMK for the people of TN? The Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in Jammu and Kashmir were deprived of reservations for the last 70 years, while their counterparts in Tamil Nadu enjoyed quota,” he said.

He recalled that Manmohan Singh settled in New Delhi after partition and later went to become Prime Minister, something which would not have been possible had he been a resident of Jammu and Kashmir. People settled in other States enjoyed different rights, but not those in Jammu and Kashmir. A majority of people in Jammu and Kashmir want development, reservations, good governance and democracy, he emphasised.

One Nation, One Constitution campaign from Sept 1 to 30:

Muralidhar Rao inaugurated the zonal workshop for BJP’s nationwide programme ‘National Unity Campaign: One Nation - One Constitution’ in the city, in the presence of party State president Dr. Tamilisai Soundararajan.

The month-long campaign will be held from September 1 to explain the party’s stand on abrogation of Article 370. BJP president and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, party working president Jagat Prakash Nadda and Union Ministers and Chief Ministers of BJP-ruled States would undertake the campaign, he said.

During the campaign, 400 programmes would be conducted at 400 places and the party would meet ‘intellectuals’ and prominent leaders to explain the party’s stand on Article 370, he said.

Opposition parties, including Congress, Trinamool Congress and DMK had staged a protest at Jantar Mantar in Delhi on August 22, demanding release of political leaders under detention in Jammu and Kashmir and restoration of normalcy there. A resolution passed during the protest said that as a consequence of abrogation of the provisions of Article 370 of the Constitution without holding consultations with the people of Jammu and Kashmir or their representatives, “an undeclared State of Emergency had come to force in the Valley.”