Srinagar: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Jammu & Kashmir, today held a press conference at the party headquarters in Jawahar Nagar Srinagar. The briefing was addressed by BJP Spokesperson Dr. Abhijeet Jasrotia, accompanied by Altaf Thakur, Sahil Bashir Bhat, and Manzoor Bhat.
Speaking to the media, Dr Abhijeet Jasrotia issued a strong rebuttal to former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s recent remarks questioning the BJP over Muslim representation in the Rajya Sabha. Jasrotia said Omar Abdullah has no moral right to talk about representation, stating that the National Conference (NC) has “used Muslims as vote banks but never empowered them.”
Dr Jasrotia accused Omar Abdullah and his family of perpetuating dynastic politics that have kept Jammu and Kashmir backward for decades. He said, “Those who built empires while in power now lecture others on inclusion. The Abdullah family ruled this region for generations, yet failed to deliver dignity, prosperity, or real empowerment to common Kashmiris.”
Reaffirming BJP’s ideology of inclusivity, Dr Jasrotia said that the party represents every Indian Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs, and all communities alike. “The BJP does not believe in tokenism or appeasement. In our party, every citizen is an equal partner in India’s progress,” he added, highlighting that Muslim leaders hold important positions within the BJP across several states, including Jammu and Kashmir.
Dr Jasrotia underlined that the BJP’s inclusive character is reflected in its policies and organizational structure. “The BJP is working with the vision of sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, and Sabka Prayas. Our focus is on development and empowerment, not on sustaining family-based politics,” he said.
Challenging Omar Abdullah, Jasrotia questioned what the National Conference has done for the Muslim youth of Kashmir, apart from delivering speeches and empty promises. He urged Omar Abdullah to “look within his party before pointing fingers at the BJP,” stressing that the BJP’s developmental agenda is empowering ordinary Muslims and marginalized sections, not political dynasties.
Concluding his address, Dr Abhijeet Jasrotia appealed to the youth of Jammu and Kashmir to rise above communal and dynastic politics. “The youth of Kashmir must join hands with the BJP to build a new, progressive, and peaceful Jammu and Kashmir. The time has come to choose development over division and progress over propaganda,” he said.
