Key to power won't be in hands of Abdullahs and Muftis: Anurag Thakur

Taking a jibe at Farooq Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti, Union Minister of State (MoS) Anurag Thakur on Sunday said key to power won't be in the hands of Abdullahs and Muftis in Jammu and Kashmir but with the emerging new young leaders of the region. Earlier today the Bhartiya Janata Party organized a boat rally at Dal Lake.

Srinagar: Member Parliament and leader of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Anurag Thakur on Sunday claimed the party would revive tourism in the Valley and will take people from all walks of life forward.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of BJP's Shikara really in Srinagar's famous Dal Lake, Thakur said, "Today, a clear message is being sent from both Dal (Lake) and Dal (BJP party) that the people of Jammu and Kashmir have come forward to vote. They have preferred ballot over the bullet."

He further said that the youth of Jammu and Kashmir has given up the path of stone-pelting and guns.

"...youth want to take the key to power in their hands. Elections that did not take place in 70 years are being held today. More opportunities are on the way for the people of Jammu and Kashmir and development too will happen," he said.

Taking a jibe at Abdullahs and Muftis, he said, "They key to power won't be in the hands of Abdullahs and Muftis but with the emerging new young leaders of the region. This is a very big thing, our party under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi will provide more opportunities for the youth of the UT."

"We want to boost tourism here and that's why we want to send a message from Dal Lake to the tourists from all over the world to come here, Kashmir is waiting for you," he added.

Speaking about the ongoing District Development Council elections, the senior BJP leader said, "We are leaders and workers from grassroots. Yesterday, I had tea with our Kashmiri brethren at Lal Chowk (Srinagar), held a rally in Budgam and today we have organised this Shikara rally at Dal Lake. We will go to each and every corner of the region to spread the message of peace and development. We will bring back tourism to the Valley."

Earlier, the BJP organised a first-ever Shikara rally in Srinagar's Dal Lake where party workers and leaders participated. The rally was organised on a day when the sixth phase of DDC elections took place in Jammu and Kashmir.