Amid growing tensions between alliance partners Bhartiya Janta Party and Peoples Democratic Party BJP president Amit Shah on Sunday held closed door meetings with Jammu based Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) leaders at Veer Bhawan complex, located in the walled city area of Raghunath Pura, in Jammu.
During over one hour long ‘breakfast’ meeting Shah gathered independent ‘feedback’ of senior RSS leaders on the prevailing situation in different parts of Kashmir Valley and also discussed measures being taken to normalise the situation and restore peace.Differences between alliance partners also came up for brief discussion during the meeting.
Fresh differences cropped up after senior BJP leader Ram Madhav on Saturday ruled out any possibility of talks with Kashmiri separatists. In his Facebook post he also accussed them of playing politics of sentiments over dead bodies, echoing the stand the Union Government took in the Supreme Court on Friday.
“Separatists have only one motto — one dead body a day, so that they can play sentimental politics over the dead bodies. They use the people of the Valley as guinea pigs in their reprehensible politics of violence and separatism,” BJP general secretary Ram Madhav had said in a post on his Facebook page.
“Thorough discussions were held between BJP Chief and RSS leaders for over one hour on different issues including situation in Kashmir Valley,” a senior RSS worker told media persons at Veer Bhawan after the meeting concluded.
The meeting was attended by State general secretary (Prant Karyavah), RSS, Parshotam Dedeechi,Prant Pracharks Ramesh Pappa and Rupesh Kumar.
Tight security arrangements were made in the walled city area in the wake of visit of Amit Shah in the area.
Meanwhile, National General Secretary Ram Madhav rushed to Srinagar to meet Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti after the meeting between Amit Shah and RSS leaders ended.
During the day Shah also attended another luncheon meeting at the residence of MoS PMO Dr Jitendra Singh. At the venue he held informal discussions with selected media persons representing national, regional and local TV Channels and news papers.
Majority of mediamen present on the occasion grilled BJP Chief over handling of the kashmir situation and steps taken to shore up image of the BJP in the eyes of electorate.
BJP Chief was asked to spell out the party strategy to accomplish Mission 44 in next Assembly elections in the State especially in the wake of poor public perception about non performing BJP Ministers in the State.
Shah discussed steps being taken to restore normalcy in the troubled districts of Kashmir Valley and claimed if media had not given ‘undue’ hype to certain events in Kashmir Valley, the situation would not have turned grim
Shah briefed media persons about measures being taken to boost morale of the security forces in the Valley. Shah claimed BJP is the only party which is capable of saving Kashmir from drifting away. He also listed steps being taken to expand the base of the party to all three regions.