Hamirpur, Nov 6: Emergence of
radical Islam is a "big threat", a key BJP leader in Himachal
Pradesh, Anurag Thakur has said here and maintained that issues like Love Jihad
is not mere a communal or a conversion issue as it is leading to "somewhere
else".
"Of course Love Jihad is not merely conversion....See, Love Jihad is
leading to somewhere else," Mr Thakur told .
"It is not just to convert...It is to convert and use them against
national security. Its a threat to the national security. You can't just limit
it to a communal-secular debate. The thought process behind Love Jihad is to
radicalise youth and the strategy is to use them against the security of the
nation," he said.
Answering questions, the Hamirpur MP and son on senior BJP leader P K Dhumal,
further said, "I think there should be a clarity on this".
He said what has emerged lately is that all the states -- irrespective of party
affiliation -- must take nation security seriously.
"Now you have statistics...radical Islam is a threat. What has come out
show that all the states should be concerned. Because law and order is a state
subject. There should not be vote bank politics on it. This is directly linked
to country's security," he said.
In this context, he further said, what is emerging is pro-nationalist thinking
of the electorate in Himachal Pradesh, "is not merely guided by
Hindutva....It is guided by concern for national security".
To a question on what will be priorities of the BJP government once election
process and counting of votes is over by December 18; Mr Thakur said,
"What we are promising today is good governance and development".
"The pitch here is singularly about development, because people have made
up their mind. The Congress regime will be out and they want to know, what BJP
will bring. We are firm about bringing development," he said.
The lawmaker also justified BJP's attack on the Congress party and therefore
said, "In election atmosphere, it cannot go just talking about our
perception about development. We also have to tell people, where Congress has
derailed the track and how the state has failed."
That is why, he said, "Prime Minister Narendra Modi is telling people
during campaign that the Chief Minister (Virbhadra Singh) is on bail. There is
mafia-raj....We will need to tackle all these. Therefore, the BJP leadership -
PM Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah has pitched for an experienced person in the
form of Mr Dhumal, also a former Chief Minister".
"Ek engine ab Delhi mein hoga (Narendra Modi) aur Dhumal Shimla mein.
Double engine chalegi (One engine of development will be in Delhi in the form
of Modi and the other Dhumal in Shimla. Himachal will be led by double
engines)," he said.
To a question, he said, "age may not matter" --- in terms of
delivering development. "Youth or old......it all depends on which
situation you have to deliver. Now, look at Himachal Pradesh, we have law and
order situation. The state has a debt of over Rs 50,000 crore, now who can take
out the state from such a situation".
"Dhumalji has the experience and in this Himachal state only, during his
period, the state kept on winning awards of development," Mr Thakur said. UNI
