BJP favours disturbed area status for Doda, says Thakre

JAMMU, July 31: Stressing that his party was in favour of declaring Doda district in Jammu and Kashmir a disturbed area, Bharatiya Janata Party president Kushabhau Thakre said on Thursday that he could not however make any comment on behalf of the Government at the Centre.

At a Meet the Press8217; programme organised by the Jammu Press Club, the BJP chief said he wanted the Farooq Government to help the Centre fight militancy. 8220;I8217;ll be satisfied with the performance of the National Conference Government only if there is total peace in the state,8221; he added.

Thakre further said that while some external forces were trying to internationalise8217; the Kashmir issue, many in Jammu and Kashmir itself were sympathetic to the militants. 8220;Had it been not so, it would have been easy to deal with the militants,8221; he added.

The BJP chief also criticised attempts to portray the ongoing militancy in the state as a fight between two communities.