Those opposing the 'Delimitation Commission' report have 'vested-interest', says BJP's Devender Rana

“It is basically the communal-sectarian mindset of political entities in Kashmir who want to maintain their hegemony, and hegemony of a particular section of the population,” Rana told UNI in an interview here.

“Since their ground has been slipping they are trying to create a fear psychosis in the minds of the people for their own vested interest to remain in power,” he said.

“The Draft report is nothing but absolutely transparent, judicious, correct and as per the tenets of the delimitation,” Rana said.

Asked about allegations on BJP pushing its political agenda in J&K through the Delimitation Commission, the BJP leader categorically said, “If the BJP is pushing the agenda then Jammu district would have got more seats, but it has not got any new seat in the draft report.”

He said Kashmir's share has not been reduced, but if the Jammu region gets its due then what is their problem.

“Their problem is they have a communal sectarian approach to the whole of Jammu and Kashmir and they want to cling on to power and they are not even sincere to their own people in the valley. However, the people of Kashmir are secular,” Rana said, adding "the leaders have different versions for the two parts – one for the Valley people and one for Jammu".

Rebutting National Conference (NC) MP Hasnain Masoodi's comment on the Commission's proposal that it is disproportionate as per 2011 census, he said if that was the case, Jammu district would have had more seats.

“If the seat-sharing was on the 2021 census, probably the seats in Jammu would have been 50 and 40 in Kashmir in the present Delimitation draft. The seats have been increased in those areas where the Kashmir-based leaders claim to be their political pocket borough,” he said.

Those who are saying the population is the only consideration are trying to mislead the people, the population is one basic thing, but apart from it –area, geography, topography, and terrain are an important factor in the delimitation process and considering all these facts, six seats have been allocated to Jammu and one seat to Kashmir, the BJP leader said.

Slamming former Chief Minister and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti's remarks that BJP is trying to bring differences between communities, Rana said those who are saying all this are again peddling lies because they are sowing the seeds of discord.

On civilian killings in the valley, Rana said, killing happened at the behest of Pakistan to create a fear psychosis in the mind of the people because things are getting normal in entire Jammu and Kashmir.

"Pakistan's ability to create trouble in Jammu and Kashmir has reduced considerably because of the strong counter-insurgency grid established by forces and strong Government in Delhi," he maintained.

"The kind of infrastructural development work pushed by the present Government in the UT of J&K is unparalleled and the present Government is also addressing the local aspirations of the people," he said.