Rajya Sabha MP and BJP senior leader Gulam Ali Khatana on Wednesday said that the people of Kashmir have finally rejected the thirty years of bloodshed, deceit, and misrule by the National Conference (NC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and Congress, and have embraced the vision of peace, prosperity, and development under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership.
Khatana was addressing a rally in support of BJP candidate Mohsin Aga ahead of the by-election for the Budgam assembly seat.
He urged the people to support the party’s vision of peace, progress, and inclusive development.
“For over three decades, NC, PDP, and Congress kept Kashmir bleeding for their political benefits. They divided people, destroyed the youths’ future, and stopped progress. Today, the people of Kashmir have awakened. They want peace, jobs, and development, not bullets and slogans,” he said.
Khatana said that the National Conference is nothing more than a family-run party where opportunities are confined to a few individuals.
“Due to this family interference, the marginalised sections of society never get a fair chance — only family members benefit. NC, PDP, and Congress are all family-based parties that have monopolised power and opportunities. For seventy years, these parties discriminated against the people of Budgam. Only the BJP can bring real development and justice to them,” he said.
Khatana further criticised the National Conference leadership for “betraying” the trust of Budgam’s people. “After the Assembly elections, Omar Abdullah resigned from the Budgam Assembly constituency and left the people to their fate. The same party that asked for votes abandoned them soon after victory. This shows how little they care about the welfare of ordinary citizens,” he said.
He added that people had given their mandate to NC for their betterment, but instead of serving them, the party misled and manipulated the public while doing no real work for their progress.
Highlighting the BJP’s commitment to empowering youth and ensuring inclusive development, Khatana said that the young generation of Kashmir represents the future and must be supported through education, entrepreneurship, and employment. “This election is not about power; it is about peace and progress. Let us end the politics of deceit and embrace a prosperous, united, and developed Kashmir,” he said.