Martyred soldier Aurangzeb’s father Mohammed Haneef has reportedly decided to join the Bharatiya Janata Party. He is likely to join the party during Prime Minister Modi’s visit to the state of Jammu and Kashmir on February 3. Aurangzeb, a 44 Rashtriya Rifles soldier, had been abducted and murdered by terrorists in June last year when he was on his way home to celebrate Eid with his family in Poonch. Later on, his bullet-ridden body was found in Gusoo village in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district. This tragic incident had caused widespread outrage across the country.
Mohammed Haneef, Aurangzeb’s father is an ex-serviceman. He is a former sepoy of the Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry. Speaking to India Today TV, Mohammed Haneef said that he was impressed by Prime Minister Modi’s policies for the poor and together they throw out terrorists from India, which is why he has decided to become a member of the safron party. He said, “PM Modi has worked for the welfare of the poor. I want to join the BJP so that we can throw out the terrorists from the nation. I will take the membership of the BJP on February 3 in the presence of PM Modi. Till the time Kashmir-based politicians are at the helm in the state, the terrorism can’t be eradicated. Only PM Modi can solve the problems in Jammu and Kashmir. We are Indians, there shouldn’t be any talks with Pakistan.”
The BJP has welcomed Haneef’s decision to join the party. Party leader and former Jammu & Kashmir Deputy CM, Kavinder Gupta said, “I want to salute martyr Aurangzeb and his father. He has taken a very bold decision. His decision to join the BJP will boost the morale of nationalist forces. I appreciate his decision.”
The Congress meanwhile could not resist its frustration. It stated that the martyr’s father is free to join any political party. It further tried taking a dig at the BJP and argued that it should refrain from using the rifleman’s martyrdom for votes. Chief spokesperson, Jammu & Kashmir Congress, Ravinder Sharma, said, “We salute martyr Aurangzeb and his father. He was a brave soldier who made the supreme sacrifice for the nation. Aurangzeb’s father is free to join any political party. But BJP shouldn’t indulge in marketing his martyrdom for votes during elections.” The Congress is clearly shocked by the way a martyr’s father has joined the BJP. Instead of appreciating the fact that the BJP is seen as a nationalist-minded party, the Congress tried to paint the BJP in a bad light.
It is undoubtedly true that martyr Aurangzeb’s father was free to join any political party, just like any other citizen of India. However, one must try to understand why he chose to join the BJP. It was because the slain soldier’s father understood that it is only the BJP which can effectively fight terrorism and resolve the Kashmir issue. This corroborates the BJP’s virtues of nationalism and its strong resolve to fight terror. Other political parties must understand why those having a nationalist mindset and a will to fight terror repose faith in the BJP and PM Modi’s leadership instead of trying to portray the ruling party as an opportunistic outfit. The BJP is setting very high standards when it comes to nationalism and political will to fight terror.