The Kashmir Pulse

SRINAGAR — Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate from Udhampur Lok Sabha constituency, Dr Jitendra Singh, on Thursday filed his nomination papers.

The nomination ceremony, held at the District Deputy Commissioner's office in Kathua, witnessed the presence of prominent BJP leaders, including the State President, Ravinder Raina, and the renowned wrestler, “The Great Khali" alias Dalip Singh.

Dr Jitendra Singh, contesting for the third time from the Udhampur seat, received overwhelming support from party members and supporters as he embarked on a roadshow through Kalibari, Kathua, leading up to the nomination venue. The atmosphere was charged with excitement as BJP enthusiasts danced to the rhythmic beats of drums.

As per the news agency KNO, after completing the formalities of filing his nomination, Dr Jitendra Singh proceeded to address a spirited rally at Ramlila Maidan in Kathua city.

Dr Singh, who previously served as the Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office, has previously secured victory in the 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha elections from the same constituency. Prior to filing his nomination, Dr Singh commenced the day with a morning puja, seeking divine blessings for a successful campaign ahead.

As the deadline for nominations approaches on March 27, political fervour intensifies in the region. The scrutiny of nomination papers is slated for March 28, followed by the withdrawal of candidature by March 30. The Lok Sabha elections for the Udhampur seat are scheduled for April 19.

Meanwhile, in a significant development, former BJP-PDP government minister Chaudhary Lal Singh, a two-time MP, has returned to the Congress fold after nearly a decade. Lal Singh has expressed his intent to contest from the Udhampur seat.

SRINAGAR — The Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) expects the November 7, Srinagar rally of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to be a grand success, predicting an attendance of more than two lakh people at the venue.

BJP Jammu Kashmir President Ravinder Raina claimed that people in every nook and cranny of the Valley are happy and eagerly waiting for the arrival of Mr Modi in Kashmir.

Modi is scheduled to visit Kashmir on March 7. He will address a rally at Bakshi Stadium in Srinagar. J&K Police have already sealed the venue for the event and special security pickets have been erected in a two-km radius of the venue. Frisking is being carried out throughout the city and additional forces have been deployed on all major roads coming in and going out of Srinagar.

While addressing a press conference in Srinagar, BJP Jammu Kashmir President Ravinder Raina claimed that Gujjar Bakarwals, Pahari, Hanjis, Telis, Chopans, Hajams and over 40 sub-castes who were allegedly deprived of their rights by previous governments will attend the Modi’s Srinagar rally.

“In 2003, Vajpayee’s Srinagar rally was a success and so was Modi’s rally at SK Stadium in 2015. Due to the efforts of Modi, there is peace and development in Kashmir. Bollywood star SRK and cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar freely roamed in Kashmir because Modi invested in peace here,” Raina said and claimed that BJP will win both the Assembly and Parliament elections in Jammu and Kashmir hands down.

He said the future of Jammu and Kashmir is safe in the hands of Mr Modi. “BJP will contest on all five Parliament seats in Jammu and Kashmir and will win all of them. The people of Kashmir love and support Mr Modi and BJP. We request people to attend the March 7 rally in Srinagar and listen to the Prime Minister of India,” Raina said.

SRINAGAR — The Jammu and Kashmir Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has concluded its selection process for candidates vying for three significant seats in Kashmir, with the list of potential contenders forwarded to the party's head office for consideration by the parliamentary affairs panel.

Reliable sources within the BJP disclosed that the party has identified potential candidates for key constituencies in Kashmir. Darakshan Andrabi, Altaf Thakur, Ashok Bhat, and Arif Raja have emerged as potential contenders for the Central Kashmir Parliamentary seat. Meanwhile, the North Kashmir seat presents three potential candidates: Anwar Khan, Surinder Ambardar, and Fakir Muhammad Khan.

In the Anantnag-Rajouri constituency, J&K BJP chief Ravinder Raina has expressed his intent to contest. Notably, former National Conference MLC Shehaz Ganai, who recently joined the BJP in New Delhi, is also under consideration. Sources within the BJP speculate that Ganai may secure the party ticket for the Anantnag-Rajouri constituency, citing her familial legacy and widespread support base.

The J&K BJP leadership remains in close communication with the party's central leadership in New Delhi. A senior BJP leader affirmed that the list of candidates has been submitted to the parliamentary panel for review, with a final decision expected imminently to allow candidates ample time for campaigning.

Expressing confidence, the BJP aims to secure victory in all three Kashmir seats. The recent inclusion of prominent figures has injected renewed vigour into the party, with anticipation of further influential individuals joining in the coming days.

Preparations are also underway for the two seats in Jammu, with candidate selections nearing completion for submission to the BJP's parliamentary affairs panel in New Delhi.

MoS in PMO and incumbent MP, Dr Jitendera Singh is anticipated to be retained for the Kathua-Udhampur Lok Sabha seat. However, for the Jammu seat, there is a possibility of incumbent MP Jugal Kishore being replaced. Former J&K Assembly speaker Kavinder Gupta and Devender Singh Rana are identified as primary contenders for the seat, according to BJP sources.

SRINAGAR — Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi unfurled the national flag at Lal Chowk in Srinagar city in the presence of his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and other party leaders, and marked the end of the foot-march that began on September 7 last year.

An unnamed official, quoted by the news agency KNS, said that Rahul Gandhi hoisted the national flag at Srinagar's iconic Lal Chowk in presence of sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and other party leaders. Pertinently, Sunday marks the last walking day of the Yatra.

Earlier, prominent leaders like PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti and National Conference leader Omar Abdullah joined Gandhi, along with his sister Priyanka in Awantipora and Banihal, respectively.

Notably, the Kanyakumari to Kashmir Yatra started from the southern tip of the country on September 7 and ends on January 30 in Srinagar, some 145 days and nearly 4,000 km later.

Rahul Gandhi’s tricolour hoisting in Lal Chowk shows drastic change in J&K: Ravinder Raina

Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) J&K President, Ravinder Raina on Sunday said the hoisting of tricolour in Lal Chowk by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi shows a drastic change in Jammu and Kashmir post abrogation of Article 370.

Raina said that hoisting the tricolour in Srinagar clearly shows a drastic change in the ground situation in J&K and added, “All credit goes to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s able leadership for this gross change.”

“It took Congress and its leaders 70 years to hoist the national flag in Lal Chowk. If Rahul Gandhi hoisted tricolour today, it happened only due to the bold leadership of PM Narendra Modi”, Raina said.

Praising the efforts of PM Modi, the BJP leader said the way PM Modi assaulted anti-national elements and rejuvenate the lost confidence among the people of Jammu and Kashmir. “The PM Modi restored peace and brotherhood in J&K post-abrogation of Article 370 and 35(A), then it became possible for Rahul Gandhi-like leaders to come and hoist the flag in J&K,” Raina said.

While criticizing the Congress leadership, Raina said, “No Congress leader dared till date to hoist the national flag in Lal Chowk. Be it Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, Raju Gandhi or Sonia Gandhi who headed United Progressive Alliance (UPA) for 10 years but no one among them dared to ensure peace in J&K and hoist tricolour here.”

He hailed PM Narendra Modi and HM Amit Shah for bringing peace to J&K and added, “After the eco-system of anti-national elements stood collapsed, Rahul Gandhi felt the need to visit Kashmir valley and hoist the tricolour here.”

“Had there been a Congress government, the hoisting of the tricolour in Lal Chowk would not have been possible,” Raina added.

JAMMU — Scores of People's Democratic Party leaders and workers staged a protest in Jammu, demanding a high-level enquiry over alleged links of arrested LeT militant, Talib Hussian with the BJP.

According to news agency Kashmir News Service, the protesters were carrying placards and displaying photos of Talib Hussain with BJP leaders.

They alleged that BJP is the party of the militants while demanding a high-level probe into the alleged links of Talib, a LeT militant who was arrested in Reasi last week, with the BJP.

"Talib was appointed as a member in the Minority Morcha IT Cell of the BJP as it is clearly written on the order issued by J&K BJP chief Ravinder Raina," the protesters said.

They said that the negligence is so high that even the pictures of this militant with Home Minister Amit Shah have gone viral on social media. "His presence in the BJP not only posed a threat to the security forces but also to civilians. The BJP has compromised with the nation’s security,” they alleged.

The protesters further said that the BJP needs to answer as to why it is recruiting militants in its ranks.

BJP denies having any links with captured LeT militant

Meanwhile, Bhartiya Janta Party on Tuesday denied having any links with the arrested LeT militant Talib Hussain, who was apprehended last week in Reasi district and stated that the allegations were baseless.

Talking to reporters in Jammu, J&K BJP chief, Ravinder Raina said that the arrested militant was never directly associated with the BJP in any capacity, as was being alleged.

He said that they have issued a show-cause notice to the Minority Morcha chief Sheikh Bashir and asked him to reply within 48 hours and he has to explain how he made the appointment as every appointment in the party is made by the party president.

He also said that Talib Hussain and his accomplice used to visit the BJP office in Jammu, pretending to be journalists and they would attend press conferences as reporters inside the BJP offices and used to be present at political rallies.

"Shah’s frequent visit to party headquarters was a conspiracy to target our leaders. He was neither a primary member nor a basic member, so there is no question of him being an active member of the party,” he said.

Notably, a political slugfest erupted between the BJP and other opposition parties in J&K after photos of LeT militant Talib Hussain, who was arrested in Reasi along with his associate, with BJP leaders including Home Minister Amit Shah surfaced on various social media handles.

PULWAMA — Ravinder Raina, the president of Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) in Jammu and Kashmir, paid a visit to the family of deceased sub-inspector Farooq Ahmad Mir on Monday at Samboora village in the Pulwama district of south Kashmir.

He showed sympathy for the grieving family members as he recalled Farooq as a courageous Jammu and Kashmir Police officer.

He denounced the murder of the police officer as a 'cowardly' crime. He remarked, "He was an honest and courageous officer. He used to help the poor, impoverished, and the needy."

"He was an innocent man, and it is unacceptable to kill an unarmed person," he stated.

When Raina raeched the residence of the slain sub-inspector, some emotional scenes were witnessed. The father and other family members of the murdered police officer sobbed hysterically.

It is in place to mention here that Ravinder Raina was accompanied by Sunil Sharma (J&K BJP's General Secretary), Ataf Thakur (J&K BJP's spokesperson), Sajjad Raina (J&K BJP's District President Pulwama) and other leaders.