Carrying forward party’s mass contact programme named ‘Vistarak Yojana’ to far off places in Jammu and Kashmir, Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) state vice president, Yudhvir Sethi, on Sunday reached Pattan. He was accompanied by BJP Baramulla district president, Desh Kumar Nehru and incharge ‘Vistarak Yojana’ North Kashmir Arif Raja.

He has already toured the remote areas of Jammu, Sunderbani, Noushera and Baramulla and has interacted with the people and made them aware about the party’s mass contact programme.

He reminded the party functionaries that Kashmir is known as ‘Pir Waer’ – Alcove of Sufis and Saints and this status needs to be retained despite all odds.

Sethi was speaking to a gathering of party functionaries, where he apprised several thousand Vistaraks (fulltime workers) about BJP’s programmes and policies all over the country, including Jammu and Kashmir.

He said all religions, including Hinduism, Islam, Sikhism and Buddhism have had a great history in Kashmir. The great Shaiva, Vaishnava and Buddhists texts were composed here. Islamic spirituality has also left a deep impact on the region since about the ninth and the tenth centuries.

“This land of Sufis and Saints is badly hit by cycle of violence. Since Kashmiriyat is an age old norm of synergised co-existence that has been practiced in the Valley since times immemorial, there is a need of confidence building amongst masses so that peace could return to this Heaven on Earth,” he said.

He said that the BJP by holding mass contact programmes intend to make people of Kashmir aware of the state as well as central government’s efforts to help them live a life wherein they could progress and prosper.

All religions in Kashmir revere the Sufi saints like Lal Ded and Nund Rishi with equal fervour. He said, “Terrorism, money power, corruption and nepotism during the past two decades have vitiated peaceful and progressive atmosphere of Kashmir.”

Extending his support to the youth, Sethi said, “It’s because of their efforts that a lost era of peace and tranquillity could return to this land of Sufi saints.”

He visited several areas in Baramulla and held mass contact programmes at booth levels. Meanwhile, Desh Nehru informed the party functionaries to strengthen party at all levels and also set up units wherever BJP lacks any presence. The programme, he said is in connection with centenary celebrations to mark the birth anniversary of Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay, who always believed in putting nation first, society second and family third.

Arif Raja said that youth in Kashmir are being misguided and are resorting to stones pelting on security forces.” These young girls and boys, who have immense potential, are deliberately being kept isolated from the rich history and culture of their great land.”

He said schemes like Shyama Prasad Mukherji Rurban Mission, Soil Health Card Scheme For Every Farmer, Swatchh Bharat Abhiyan, Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao Yojana, Digital India Programme, Housing For All By 2022, and Atal Pension Yojna must be spread amongst people so that they can take benefits of the same schemes.

Among others who spoke at the event included Arti Nehru Rana, Shabbir Ahmed, Imran, Md Maqbool, Abdul Ganai, Ashiq Dar, Gulam Hassan.

Guest