PDP-BJP Govt working to divide people on religious lines: Congress

Former Health Minister and senior Congress leader, Peerzada Mohammad Sayeed Wednesday slammed PDP-BJP coalition government for ‘dividing’ people on religious lines stating that the BJP is working on the agenda to erode the “ special status’’ of the state.

Addressing a gathering  here today on the occasion of 43rd death anniversary of former Prime Minister J&K, Bakshi Ghulam Mohammad, Sayeed said Kashmir had acceded to the secular India and not with the communal forces. He lashed out at the RSS for providing the weapons training to the youth in Jammu region to make inroads in the state.

“The BJP and RSS will never succeed in their designs to divide the people of the country and that of the state on religious lines,” he said.

Former state Congress president said that the Kashmir acceded with the India on secular lines, but now the country was ruled by communal forces. “We acceded with India for secular reasons and this was the vision of former Prime Minister, Bakshi Ghulam Mohammad. But despite the efforts by the RSS, BJP and Bajrang Dal they willn’t succeed in their designs to create the religious hatred among the people,” he said.

 Sayeed said Congress had warned the PDP that BJP will try to vitiate the communally harmonious atmosphere in the state and to keep the “ secular fabric’’ of the state intact it had offered unconditional support to the PDP to form coalition government.

 He however said that the BJP is working on the agenda “weaken the special status of the Jammu and Kashmir enshrined under the Article 370.”

 “The BJP has only one agenda and that is to erode the autonomy of the state and they willn’t leave any stone unturned to carry this out,” he said.

Former Minister said chief minister, Mufti was hoping that by forming the government with the BJP, State will get liberal financial assistance from the Central government.

“Centre has failed to provide an assistance to the people who were hit by the floods last year and the claims that PDP-BJP government will ensure that the Jammu and Kashmir gets the liberal funding have proved to be hoax.’’

He said PDP-BJP government has failed on developmental front and have failed to upgrade the road and communication infrastructure in the state. “Even travelling on the national highway from Anantang is a tough task now.  It takes 2-3 hours to reach Srinagar,” he said.

On the occasion a number of prominent personalities including the writers and journalists were awarded by the Bakshi Memorial Committee, which organized the event. Those awarded were cartoonist, Bashir Ahmad Bashir, reputed medico, Dr Bashir Ahmad eye specialist, singer Aijaz Rah, former PTI Bureau Chief Jammu, M K Bangroo, writer, Syeda Nasreen Naqash, Sardar Souran Singh, Sabah Shaheen and caretaker of Dastageer Saheb shrine, Syed Khalid Hussain Geelani. Chairman of the committee, Mohammad Sultan, said that the awards were given in recognition to the services rendered for the betterment of society.