Bharatiya Janata Party General Secretary Tarun Chug on Thursday challenged the Abdullahs, Muftis, and Gandhis to a debate on the changes Jammu and Kashmir has experienced since the abrogation of Article 370 on August 5, 2019.
"I am ready for an open debate with Omar Abdullah, Mehbooba Mufti, and members of the Gandhi family,’’ Chug said in a press conference in Jammu. “Let someone from the media decide the time and venue and handle this debate" Chug stated during a press conference in Jammu.
He said let Omar and Mufti debate with the BJP what has changed since the abrogation of Article 370. "We have official data on terror incidents, civilian casualties, security forces' deaths and stone-pelting incidents from before and after August 5, 2019," he said, accompanied by Union Minister G. K. Reddy, BJP MPs Jugal Kishore and Dr Jitendra Singh.
He said in 2018, there were 55 civilian killings, compared to 23 in 2023 and 14 so far in 2024. “In 2018, 90 security forces personnel were killed, but in 2023 the number dropped to 30, and in 2024, it further decreased to just 14,” he said.
Chug highlighted there used to be 1,328 stone-pelting incidents annually in Kashmir. “In 2023 and 2024, stone-pelting completely disappeared and terrorism is on its last legs. The number of local terrorists is nearly zero. Fake encounters have ceased," he said.
Criticising National Conference President Farooq Abdullah for promising to release jailed individuals after winning elections, he said, "I want to ask him, who does he intend to release? Those who were encouraging stone-pelting and terrorism?”
Chug asked if they wanted to bring back the culture of violence and militancy in Kashmir. He stressed that the BJP is ready for an open debate with Abdullahs and Muftis on the situation in Jammu and Kashmir after August 5, 2019.
The BJP has prepared a list of prominent leaders of the party to campaign for the upcoming assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and several union ministers are among those who will campaign for the party.