In a major embarrassment for the BJP, the party’s stalwart and former state party president Ashok Khajuria today hit out at Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh for his controversial remarks on the killing of militant commander Burhan Wani, saying “the BJP does not subscribe to the views of those who termed Burhan’s elimination as an accident”.
He also described the PDP and the BJP alliance for forming government in the state as “unholy and unhealthy” and warned that any act of the ruling alliance hurting the interests of the country would be opposed sternly.
On July 30, the Deputy Chief Minister while talking to reporters in Katra town of Reasi district had described the entire episode (killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani in an encounter) as an “accident”. His remarks followed Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti statement that security forces were unaware of Burhan’s identity during the encounter in which he was neutralised.
“We, the party workers, don’t subscribe to the views of those who described the killing of terrorist Burhan Wani as an accident. He was a terrorist and he was to be killed. I just want to ask whether chair is everything for you (Nirmal Singh) and you will utter anything to save your chair,” Khajuria, who is a sitting member of the Legislative Council (MLC), told reporters here.
The senior BJP leader said, “It is unfortunate that some people in the government had said had security forces known about the presence of Burhan Wani, he would have been saved. They must clarify as to why he was to be saved and for what purpose. We don’t subscribe to this kind of words whether these had been made by BJP leaders or coalition partner PDP.”
“The formation of government between the PDP and BJP was an unholy and an unhealthy alliance which is dangerous for nationalist people in J&K and the country as a whole. It will affect the credibility of the BJP at the national level,” he added.
Appreciating the security forces for eliminating dreaded militant Burhan Wani, Khajuria also castigated Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti for her reported statement asking the police to seek an apology from the Kashmiri youth for Burhan’s killing and said it was the reflection of “mental sickness.
“We want to make it clear (to the Chief Minister) that it will not happen (policemen seeking apology from stone-throwers and anti-nationals) at any cost. I talked to the Director General of Police (DGP) and conveyed him that no apology would be tendered in any situation. It will lower the morale of our security personnel. He (DGP) has assured me that nothing like this will be done,” he added.
This is not for the first time that fissures have cropped up within the BJP after its decision to forge an alliance with the PDP and form government in Jammu and Kashmir. Earlier, the party’s ideologue Prof Hari Om had raised the banner of revolt against the party leadership for compromising the party’s ideology. He, however, was expelled from the party for anti-party activities.
Dy CM uttering anything to save chair: BJP ex-chief
