No trouble within party in JK: BJP

Srinagar, May 02: The Bharatiya Janata Party high command, while rejecting any trouble within the BJP unit in Jammu and Kashmir, Wednesday cautioned the recently made ministers that their performance will be reviewed and decision will be taken accordingly in the future.
The BJP on Monday did a major reshuffle of its ministers when five new faces were inducted into the cabinet.
The BJP’s decision to revamp the ministerial team came after adverse reports by local RSS and BJP leaders that, in Jammu, the party is seen to have completely surrendered to the PDP, which is strong in Kashmir. The party has also faced backlash after its two ministers took part in a rally in support of those accused in the rape and murder of an eight-year-old girl in Kathua.
BJP National Vice-President, and Kashmir Affairs in charge, Avinash Rai Khanna, said that performance of newly inducted ministers will be reviewed. “The ministers have to perform better. Those who perform poorly will be dealt accordingly,” Khanna said over phone from New Delhi.
Within hours after the Cabinet reshuffle, the BJP faced a revolt as party legislator from the Chenani segment of Udhampur district, Dina Nath Bhagat, termed the state government “anti-Dalit”, which was working against the neglected and marginalised sections of society.
Another sulking legislator boycotted the legislature party meeting to protest the denial of ministerial berth to him.
“As far as our strength in the Assembly is concerned, we deserve at least two Cabinet berths,” Bhagat has said.
However, Khanna said there was no resentment within the BJP. “We are analyzing Bhagat’s statement. We gave equal representation to everyone. There was no discrimination neither the BJP believes in it,” he said.
Bhagat has said that instead of giving due representation to the neglected and marginalised sections, the government was rather gagging their voice.
“Monday’s reshuffle in the Council of Ministers has authenticated our allegations that this regime is anti-Dalit,” he has alleged and added that reserved category employees had been demanding promotion in reservation but the government had adopted a casual approach.
Meanwhile sources said that the ministers who join PDP- BJP government’s cabinet were told that they were chosen with great consideration.
Sources said that the party high command had received the reports that BJP’s graph has gone down during three years in the entire state as party Ministers and legislators focused less on development works and addressing people’s issues.
When Khanna was asked said that there were reports that party Ministers had completely lost connection with the masses, he said BJP won’t allow such things to happen and accordingly has conveyed clear cut instructions to all the party Ministers to make all possible efforts to take the party to new heights.
“We will review the working of party Ministers on regular basis and that if any negative report would be received the party will take stern action,” Khanna warned.
Meanwhile according to reports the BJP high command has set the process in motion for election of new State party president in place of Sat Sharma, who was inducted as a Cabinet Minister. (KNS)