J&K BJP president Ravinder Raina on Tuesday welcomed the decision of the Peoples Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) to take part in the scheduled all party meeting to be chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi, saying “we all must unite in the interest of the nation and work for 'Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat'".
Raina also thanked the Prime Minister for convening the meeting and said he had always shown his big heart for Jammu and Kashmir by addressing developmental issues and providing justice to the deprived communities.
“Prime Minister has convened a meeting of J&K parties on June 24 and it is a proud moment for all of us. We will utilize this opportunity to raise the issues of public interest and talk about strengthening the nation to keep its flag flying high,” Raina told reporters after an emergency meeting of the party here.
He said the Centre has extended the invitation to J&K parties with an open mind and heart and it is now the responsibility of the invitees to reciprocate and join the meeting.
Asked about his reaction to the decision of the PAGD to take part in the meeting, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader said “it is very good that all political parties are taking part in the meeting. We have already announced that I along with my colleagues are joining the meeting".
“It is a very important meeting and when the Prime Minister is on the chair it has its own sanctity. All issues of public interest will be discussed,” he said, adding “we will need to join hands to speak in one voice for our nation and the tricolor. We should strengthen the pledge of 'Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat'.”
He said Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India but “lakhs of people” have lost their lives due to Pakistan-sponsored terrorism over the past 35 years and many others including Kashmiri pundits, Sikhs and nationalist Muslims were compelled to migrate at gun point.
“J&K people are Indian by heart and the tricolor is in their hearts. Every child is Indian and loves India,” Raina said, adding it is Pakistan which has destroyed J&K and tried to turn it into a graveyard.
However, he said the Indian Army, police and paramilitary forces along with Modi-led government gave a befitting reply to the anti-national forces and even attacked them in their safe sanctuaries.
As far as talks are concerned, he said India has always tried to have good relations with its neighbours. “We have good relations with the nations across the globe but national unity and integrity is supreme for us. The territorial integrity and sovereignty is our priority and will remain so.”
Raina said the Modi-led government facilitated large scale development in Jammu and Kashmir, strengthened Panchayati Raj Institutions by holding elections to strengthen grass-root level democracy and made available adequate funds besides providing justice to different sections of the society including Dogra, Pakistan-occupied Kashmir refugees, West Pakistan refugees, Gorkha and Walmiki communities, Scheduled Caste and scheduled tribes and even women.
“Modi has shown a big heart to the people of Jammu and Kashmir and will continue to serve them for their prosperity,” he said.
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