Join PM's hand for development of Jammu and Kashmir: BJP to separatists

 A day after former separatist leader Sajjad Lone met Narendra Modi, BJP on Tuesday said the doors of the Prime Minister were open for the secessionists if they join the national mainstream and the party would welcome all to join his efforts for the development of Jammu and Kashmir.

"We welcome all to join the efforts of the Prime Minister for the development of Jammu and Kashmir. You (separatists) give up separatism and come forward, the doors of the Prime Minister are open for you. "Through separatism, you are meeting the Prime Minister of Pakistan or its High Commissioner here. Come into national mainstream, the doors of your own Prime Minister are open," BJP national general secretary Ram Madhav told reporters here.

He said development of the state was very high on the Prime Minister's agenda and all "well-intentioned" people, for whom the development of Kashmir was of prime importance, should come forward to join his hands. On his meetings with the leaders of various small parties, Madhav said he had met them with a message of development.

"On earlier occasions when I came here, I tried to talk to people who would be interested in strengthening the hands of Modi and help to develop Kashmir Valley, tourism, and turn Srinagar into a major tourist destination, provide employment to people here, develop economic activity and industrialisation here. "...that was the message with which I came here on the earlier occasions. But now I came here purely for electoral purposes. I have met several people and I don't want to discuss all that now," he said.