Devender Singh Rana is a prominent BJP leader from Jammu and Kashmir, and the BJP candidate from the Nagrota constituency in the upcoming J&K elections. Formerly a close aide of Omar Abdullah, Rana also served as the Provincial President of the Jammu wing of the National Conference and held several influential roles in public service. But in 2021, he made a strategic shift to the BJP. Since then, he has been instrumental in expanding the BJP's influence in Jammu, especially by addressing long-standing regional disparities. He is an outspoken advocate for Jammu’s political, economic, and cultural aspirations, continuously working to bridge the region’s development gap.

In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Devender Singh Rana explains his decision to leave the National Conference and join the BJP. He sheds light on Jammu & Kashmir's evolving political landscape and highlights the growing popularity of PM Modi, particularly in Jammu. Rana also talks about the restoration of peace in the region under PM Modi’s leadership. He also refutes NC’s claims that the BJP is backing 'independent' proxies from the Kashmir valley. Additionally, he accuses the NC-Congress alliance of seeking to abolish reservations in Jammu & Kashmir.

In this candid interview, Rana also addresses key issues in J&K, such as the effects of the Governor’s Rule, the rise in terror attacks in the Jammu region, the halt of the winter 'Darbar Move' from Srinagar to Jammu, and efforts to rehabilitate the Kashmiri Pandit community.

0:00 - Introduction

0:49 - Devender Rana Remembers Smita Prakash's Father

3:36 - NC Offered Support To BJP in 2014?

11:41 - Kashmir's Changing Political Landscape

17:11 - BJPs Alleged B-Teams in Kashmir

18:11 - Peace Restored in Kashmir Under PM Modi?

21:09 - Soft-Separatism in 'Naya Kashmir'

22:58 - Internal Dissatisfaction in Jammu BJP

26:21 - Modi Effect in Jammu

29:21 - Ram Madhav's Re-entry in J&K Politics

34:55 - Darbar Move

37:48 - Narrative Shift with Abrogation of Article 370

42:26 - Terror Attacks in Jammu Division

48:07 - Should India Open Talks with Pakistan?

49:31 - Jammu's Marginalization within J&K

55:01 - NC-Congress to Scrap Reservation in J&K?

57:13 - Problems with Governor's Rule

1:01:58 - Outsiders Getting Contracts in J&K?

1:08:34 - Kashmiri Pandits' Rehabilitation

1:11:41 - BJP Fielding Proxies in Kashmir?

1:14:15 - Dynamics in Political Families

1:17:01 - 'Real' Reason Behind Quitting NC