JAMMU: Jammu and Kashmir BJP chief Ravinder Raina Saturday said restoration of statehood was not a political issue but a policy matter, and any haste on the subject should be avoided since J&K had already suffered immensely in the past 35 years because of Pakistan sponsored terrorism.
He was speaking to reporters on the sidelines of an event in Udhampur to mark the anniversary of J&K’s accession to India.
Responding to a question on the restoration of statehood to the UT, Raina said J&K was a sensitive border region that bore the brunt of Pakistan sponsored terrorism for the past 3.5 decades.
“Peace, harmony and prosperity have been restored in Jammu and Kashmir over the past 10 years under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi and through the hard work of J&K’s citizens, the Army, police and the paramilitary forces,” he said.
An elected govt had been sworn-in after the return of peace, and sensitive issues should be discussed and addressed through mutual cooperation without playing politics, Raina stressed. “In my opinion, J&K govt should coordinate with the Centre for the welfare of its people and avoid all sensitive issues, provocative actions or statements,” he added.
Referring to fatal terror attacks in Ganderbal and Gulmarg, he said the enemies of peace wanted the bloodbath to continue in J&K.
Earlier, Raina, while addressing party functionaries, said the decision of Maharaja Hari Singh to sign the Instrument of Accession with India saved the lives of the residents of J&K, which was evident from the plight of the people now living in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir.
Hitting out hard at Congress and NC, the J&K BJP chief said their “nexus” during the days of Independence and Partition bled J&K from 1947 till 2019. “It was when the draconian Article 370 was revoked by PM Narendra Modi that the unification of Jammu & Kashmir with the rest of India was complete,” he maintained.