SRINAGAR, SEPTEMBER 13: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) National General Secretary Tarun Chugh has targeted AIP head Engineer Rashid with accusations of promoting “divisive politics and playing a counterproductive role in the region’s path to peace and development.’
While speaking to the media, Chugh explained the BJP’s zero-tolerance policy on terrorism, stating that his party is committed to peace in Jammu and Kashmir. “There will be no tolerance against terrorism. Our party is committed to the peace, prosperity, and progress of Jammu and Kashmir,” Chugh declared, emphasizing the BJP’s firm stance.
While Engineer Rashid took the full brunt of Chugh’s attack, the BJP leader did not stop there. Chugh also criticized the traditional regional powerhouses, including the Abdullahs and Muftis, who have dominated Jammu and Kashmir’s political landscape for decades.
“The Abdullahs and Muftis have retarded this state’s progress for decades. And now we have Engineer Rashid, who is no different. His politics has only worked to divide the people, which has led to unrest,” Chugh asserted with confidence.
During his address, Chugh labeled Rashid’s politics as part of an extended web of “divisive forces” that have harmed the region. Engineer Rashid, a popular independent politician and chief of the Jammu and Kashmir Awami Ittehad Party (AIP), frequently makes headlines for his sharp attacks on both regional and national leadership. His populist appeal has been strongly tied to advocating for Kashmiri identity, self-determination, and self-rule, often clashing with the BJP’s ideology of national integration.
With his vocal stance on contentious issues like Article 370 and criticism of the BJP’s actions in Jammu and Kashmir, Rashid has become a significant adversary of the party’s agenda. Chugh’s direct attack marks a new phase in the BJP’s electoral strategy, signaling that Rashid is seen as a key player whose influence they intend to undermine.
Chugh accused Rashid of exploiting the region’s vulnerabilities for political gain, claiming his leadership has “fueled division and resentment” among the people. “Engineer Rashid must answer for the instability he has contributed to. He pretends to stand for the people, but his actions only deepen the divides in society,” Chugh stated, positioning Rashid as a source of instability against the BJP’s promise of development and national unity.
