A delegation from French embassy, led by Sophie Gauthier, counsellor (political) strategic affairs and Romain Otal, second counselor called upon Jammu and Kashmir KVIB vice chairperson, Dr Hina Shafi Bhat to have first hand review of the security and political situation in the valley.
Dr Hina told the visiting delegation that the unfortunate socio-political scenario of Jammu and Kashmir is on account of the fact that previous governments did not pay attention to infrastructural development of the state. Nobody talks about half widows and their problems. She said said that Article 370 is misunderstood by people of the state. The previous governments have withered away the sanctity of the Article and now they are instigating people over what remains.
On assembly elections in the state, Dr Hina said that election commission of India has to take the final call but it would be based on the situation in Kashmir.
“All these years, elections exploited the aspirations of the common people. Mainstream political parties in connivance with separatists habitually fooled people but we want clean elections to keep democracy alive,” she said and added that under BJP all the three regions of the state have received equitable treatment.
While deliberating on presence of BJP in Kashmir, she said the way things are changing at ground level shows that the party is preferred by the right minded and progressive people.
“BJP is now a recognised party in Kashmir valley, with more than two lakh members. People are showing faith in the policies of incumbent Prime Minister and they have huge expectations,” said Dr Hina and added that opposition parties have now resorted to creating apprehensions about abrogation of Article 370 and 35 A, as they do not find any substantial grounds to criticise the BJP.