Wanted party brass to push cases of cadre, Jammu youth too
A day after Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti had ordered the withdrawal of stone-throwing cases against 4,327 youth of the Kashmir valley, anger brewed in the local unit of the BJP as the party’s lawmakers cautioned that this action would prove disastrous in the Jammu region. The Chief Minister, reportedly on the recommendations of the Centre’s special representative Dineshwar Sharma, had announced amnesty for first-time stone throwers.
Resentment shown by local party leaders, including lawmakers, is an indication that the state and central leadership of the BJP are not on the same page over granting amnesty to stone throwers of the Kashmir Valley, said a source. Sources said that during the monthly meeting of party legislators held here last evening, some lawmakers expressed their anger over the withdrawal of cases against over 4,000 stone throwers in one go. “Prominent BJP workers, including some top leaders, are facing various cases due to political reasons but party ministers in the coalition failed to strike a bargain with the PDP to get these charges withdrawn in lieu of amnesty to Valley-based stone throwers,” a source said, quoting a lawmaker.
The sources said party lawmakers drew the attention of the leadership towards cases registered against some prominent BJP leaders and Sangh Parivar workers during the 2008 and 2013 Kishtwar riots. “If cases have been withdrawn against stone throwers of the Kashmir valley, why is a similar yardstick not adopted for the BJP workers who have been facing charges?” a source said, quoting a legislator. During the meeting, legislators suggested that BJP ministers must come out with details of youth of the Jammu region against whom cases were registered during the 2008 Amarnath land row.
Focus on Amarnath land row cases
During the 2008 Amarnath land row, cases were registered in different parts of the Jammu region. BJP leaders wanted party ministers to strike a deal with the PDP to withdraw all such cases in exchange of giving amnesty to stone throwers of the Kashmir valley
According to VHP leader Leela Karan Sharma, 100 FIRs related to Amarnath row are still registered in different police stations of the Jammu region
