BJP Faces Test Of Its ‘Nationalism’ In The Nagrota Land Controversy In Jammu

The construction of a multi-storey bungalow by top BJP leader Nirmal Singh’s wife, next to the ammunition depot in Nagrota town of Jammu and Kashmir has angered Army officials, who have filed a contempt petition in the High Court. The Army officials have alleged the construction of the house to be “illegal and in prohibited zone under the provisions of the Workers Defence Act, 1903.”

In 2014, top Bharatiya Janata Party leaders — including J&K Assembly speaker Nirmal Singh, Deputy Chief Minister Kavinder Gupta, and BJP MP from Jammu-Poonch Lok Sabha constituency Jugal Kishore — had purchased 12 acres of land next to the Army ammunition depot in Nagrota in Jammu district, via a company called HIMGIRI Infrastructure Development Limited.

Of the 12 acres owned by Nirmal Singh’s wife Mamata Singh, a plot of 2,000 square metres has been used to construct a bungalow.

HIMGIRI Infrastructure Development Limited was incorporated by BJP leaders in 2000. The company, used to buy land in Nagrota, owes Rs 29.31 crore to Jammu and Kashmir Bank.

The construction had prompted a strong protest by the Army, with the Corps Commander of the Army’s 16 Corps, Lt General Saranjeet Singh, writing directly to Nirmal Singh. In the letter dated 19 March, Saranjeet Singh said the construction “has implications on the security of a major ammunition storage facility as well as the safety of all personnel living in close vicinity of the ammunition depot.”

Further, as per a notification issued by the DC, Jammu, on 7 August 2015, “construction activity within one thousand yards of the boundary wall of 4 ASD has been prohibited.”

In response, Nirmal Singh had accused the Army of harassing people and termed the opposition as “politically motivated.”

“They (army) don’t let people construct even a toilet. People are harassed. You should speak to people there. Because it is my house, it is politically motivated. They started objecting. Why don’t they get a stay, they can’t do it,” Singh told The Indian Express.

Has the land issue blown the lid off the BJP’s ‘nationalistic’ fervour?

The Nagrota issue has not remained a land issue alone but has taken a sharp turn towards nationalism. The Jammu Chamber of Commerce and Industry has asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to immediately “sack Nirmal Singh” for his comment against the Indian Army. The general secretary of Jammu Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Manish Gupta, has said “irresponsible utterances’’ by a person “holding second highest constitutional post in the state’’ against the credentials of the Indian Army was “not in national interest’’.

On 15 May, senior advocate and former president of Jammu and Kashmir High Court Bar Association, Mohinder Bhardawaj had said the construction on the land had “blown the lid off the party’s much touted nationalistic fervor.”

While there has been demand for removal of Nirmal Singh from the party, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti of PDP, the BJP’s alliance partner in the state, have remained silent on the issue.

While the BJP is trying to distance itself from Nirmal Singh, it seems the issue has the potential to create a dent in the party’s much-touted ‘nationalistic’ image.

“Normally, the party is not concerned about personal issues. The present issue also pertains to Dr Nirmal Singh and he should have resolved it. The party is taking serious note of the issues. It will appropriately reported to the leadership,” The Indian Express quoted the state BJP’s chief spokesperson, Sunil Seth, as saying.

What about the sacrifice of our soldiers?

Time and again, the BJP has justified its politics by putting the Army at the forefront of the discourse. Until now, hiding behind the soldiers had always paved the way for the party to get away with serious questions.

For instance, in November 2017, Prime Minister Modi’s announcement of demonetising Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes was justified by invoking the Indian Army. The long crushing queues outside the ATMs were compared to the soldiers patrolling Siachen.

Now that the party is grappling with furore from various institutions in Jammu, it remains to be seen how the BJP proves its nationalism.