Kashmiri leaders oppose Rohingya refugees deportation, Article 35A abrogation
Differences have cropped up between the leaders of BJP representing Kashmir and Jammu region over the deportation of Rohingya Muslims and abrogation of Article 35-A which prevents outsiders from owning property in state. The split has widened ahead of the visit of party national general secretary, Ram Madhav, to Kashmir tomorrow.
Kashmiri Muslim BJP workers and leaders have made it clear to the party high command they “must stop hurting our religious feelings and political emotions”. While the Kashmir unit leaders have opposed deportation of Rohingya Muslims and abrogation of Article 35-A those from Jammu have held a divergent view.
Sources who are privy to the discussions that took place in the BJP meeting held at Deputy Chief Minister, Dr Nirmal Singh’s, residence days before, said the BJP workers and leaders from Kashmir who are mostly Muslims asked the leadership that the deportation of Rohingyas shall not take place.
“We are Muslims and they (Rohingyas are also Muslims). Our emotions are with them. The BJP government has to respect our feeling and emotions. We are part of the party like others, so our voices need to be respected and heard. Some handpicked people can’t make policies in the name of religion,” a Kashmiri Muslim BJP leader told in the meeting. The meeting was attended among others by BJP national general secretary (org), Ram Lal, BJP state president Sat Sharma, State BJP general secretary Ashok Kaul.
Sources said some BJP leaders from Kashmir even went to the extent of stating that “those who are framing policies now as legislators and ministers or parliamentarians have worked under them.’’
“Rohingyas won’t move out of India. They will live here. They are not the only refugees. Why are some groups trying to evict Rohingyas form Jammu? Many Rohingya families were forced to leave Jammu,” the BJP’s Kashmir unit leaders said in the meeting.
Sources said that BJP’s Kashmir unit leaders including Zonal Presidents, Block level leaders, District presidents made it clear that they will in no way “allow any fiddling with Article 35-A.’’
“We are not given salaries for our work. We have joined BJP on some political lines. But now things are moving towards different direction. Article 35-A is our identity, we will not allow its abrogation,’’ they said.
The BJP workers also informed in the meeting that policies of the government has left them in dire situation as they wouldn’t be “able to face people.”
“With which face will we seek votes for the BJP tomorrow. We managed 4000-5000 votes in the last elections in Tral. But we are going to lose in case we deport Rohingyas or revoke Article 35-A,’’ said a leader.
