Mumbai: Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday stated that there was nothing wrong in using the issue of nationalism during election campaigns and maintained it would remain one of the main agendas in the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) campaign for the Vidhan Sabha election.
“Nationalism will be one of the major poll agendas and why shouldn’t it be? In the USA, the election agenda was about building a wall between the two countries. In every European country, nationalism is an issue in elections,” Mr Fadnavis said.
Stating that Article 370 was not only about Kashmir but also India’s integrity, the chief minister said one should not be afraid of talking about nationalism. We are happy that one of our agendas is nationalism, he added.
The chief minister’s assertions indicate that the BJP will not hesitate to use the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir as a major poll plank during the Vidhan Sabha polls despite criticism.
Union home minister Amit Shah, in the saffron party’s first public address after the state Assembly election was announced, had raised the narrative of punishing those parties who opposed the abrogation Article 370 and 35(A), in the poll.
Reacting strongly to this, Congress had retorted that the election was being in Maharashtra and not in Kashmir.
“Mr Shah should give speeches about Article 370 in Kashmir and not in Maharashtra. In the state, the major issues are unemployment, failing small and medium enterprises and farm loan waivers,” the Congress spokesperson had said.
According to BJP sources, the Centre’s decision to nullify Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir has been hugely appreciated by the people and it will pay rich dividends for the party in the forthcoming Vidhan Sabha polls.
