Newly appointed State BJP chief Ravinder Raina on Thursday sent an open invitation to a ‘global terrorist’ and Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salah-ud-Din, presently camping in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK), to shun the path of violence and contest elections to join mainstream politics after returning to India.

Raina also offered an olive branch to the newly recruited terrorists in Kashmir to lay down their arms and take benefit of surrender policy and ‘conditional’ ceasefire announcement made by the Union Government for the next 30 day period of holy month of Ramzan.

In his maiden media interaction in Jammu after becoming the state party Chief Ravinder Raina also claimed the majority of youth in Kashmir valley are not holding Pakistani flags in their hands. He said the youth in Kashmir is equally patriotic and it is only a handful of those who are indulging in acts of stone pelting as they have set shops and do it for the sake of money. He said when Indian army carries out operations in Sopore, Shopian, Tral, Pulwama, Baramulla and other areas it is the local youth in Kashmir who share information and help Indian army not any one from outside Kashmir valley. He maintained the announcement of ceasefire is 'conditional'.

"Our forces will not fire the first bullet but if they are fired upon they reserve the right to retaliate strongly". Making a passionate appeal to these kashmiri youth to shun the path of violence and take benefits of surrender policy Raina said, "i make a similar appeal to Syed Salah Ud Din, who is on the run from one place to another". He said if he considers himself a kashmiri leader then he must also return to India and contest elections before joining the mainstream politics". For how long he will continue to misguide the youth and hand over guns to them,he added.

Courtesy: Pioneer: Friday, 18 May 2018 | Mohit Kandhari | Jammu