Diplomat Correspondent
Jammu: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson Dr. Abhijeet Singh Jasrotia on Monday launched a sharp counter-attack on National Conference vice-president Omar Abdullah, accusing him of mocking faith, welfare schemes and merit-based governance while conveniently forgetting his own political legacy.
Dr. Abhijeet Singh Jasrotia, accompanied by Sanjay Bakshi, Media Co-convenor, J&K BJP, was addressing a press conference at party headquarters, Trikuta Nagar, Jammu.
Dr. Abhijeet Singh Jasrotia reacted strongly to Omar Abdullah’s remarks targeting “G Ram G,” questioning the former chief minister’s selective memory. “Has Omar Abdullah forgotten that his own father, Dr Farooq Abdullah, has on several occasions sung Shree Ram Bhajans publicly?” Jasrotia asked, asserting that faith and devotion cannot be politicised or selectively ridiculed.
He also reminded the CM that the pious word Ram is being used in the names of forefathers’ names, which has been in practice since the time immemorial, while adding that the Congress party after denying the existence of Shree Ram is now searching for its own existence.
“What was the connection of Dr Farooq Abdullah with God Ram then?” Jasrotia said, adding that devotion transcends political ideology and family lineage. “Mocking faith only exposes intolerance, not intellect,” he remarked.
The BJP spokesperson also defended G RAM G, stating that if Mahatma Gandhi were alive today, he would have been proud of increased welfare initiatives to ensure dignity of labour and livelihood security while including the name of Shree Ram in the scheme. “Gandhiji stood for empowering the weakest. Any scheme that guarantees work and food security is in line with his vision,” Jasrotia said.
He cautioned the Congress to shun its enmity with the Shree Ram and not to mock the legacy of ancient culture and beliefs of India, which has already been based on the basic principles of secularism.
Taking a swipe at what he termed as “dynasty-driven governance,” Jasrotia said the era of “mamu–bhanja sarkar” and “beta–baap sarkar” was over in Jammu and Kashmir.
“Gone are the days when jobs were distributed on the basis of family connections and political loyalty. Today, merit, transparency and eligibility decide who gets employment,” he asserted.
Jasrotia maintained that the BJP-led system has dismantled nepotism and ushered in accountability. “Every Tom, Dick and Harry will not get a government job just because of proximity to power. Those who deserve it will get it,” he said.
He accused Omar Abdullah and his party of being uncomfortable with a system that no longer revolves around political families. “When privilege ends, they call it persecution; when merit begins, they call it injustice,” Jasrotia said.DD
