New Delhi: A day after BJP pulled the plug on its alliance with PDP in J&K , party general secretary Ram Madhav on June 20 said that the BJP will not show any “mercy” to terrorists.
“There will be no mercy for terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir,” BJP’s J&K in-charge Ram Madhav stated his party’s policy for the state while speaking to Times Now.
The “no mercy” strategy for combating terrorism in the Valley came even as leaders of the two main political parties in J&K, PDP’s Mehbooba Mufti and NC’s Omar Abdullah, had objected to the government’s pursual of a “muscular” approach to tackle terrorism in the state.
The “no mercy” policy was part of BJP’s four-pronged approach proposed to tackle the security situation in J&K. Dealing with Over Ground Workers (OGWs) through legal means, engaging with all stakeholders, including the Hurriyat, and promoting development being the other three points.
In the interview, Madhav also slammed its former coalition partner PDP for succumbing to “domestic political compulsion” and “failing to live up to its promise”.
He also cited PDP’s demand to extend the Ramzan ceasefire as one of the reasons which led to the collapse of the alliance. In May, the central government had announced a unilateral ceasefire for the holy month of Ramzan.
The BJP general secretary also cited the assassination of Rising Kashmir journalist Shujaat Bukhari calling it the “last straw” which lead to the breakup of the alliance. Bukhari was assassinated on June 14 by terrorists outside his office in Srinagar.
Following the BJP’s announcement, chief minister Mufti tendered her resignation and governor’s rule was imposed in the state a day after on June 20.
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