VIJAYPUR (JK): Last year in Pulwama, The father of Army jawan Aurangzeb, who  was abducted and brutally killed by terrorists and on Sunday joined BJP in presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a public rally. Rifleman Aurangzeb's father Mohammad Hanief, a resident of Rajouri, joined the BJP along with former Army officer, Lt Gen (Retd) Rakesh Kumar Sharma.

However, Mr Hanief, along with Mr Sharma, handed over a portrait of his martyred son to the prime minister as he welcomed them to the party. Rifleman Aurangzeb of 44 Rashtriya Rifles was kidnapped and killed by terrorists in Pulwama district when he was on his way home to celebrate Eid on June 14. He was awarded Shaurya Chakra posthumously.

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Mr Hanief said that "He has  joined the BJP for its pro-poor policies. Modi government is the best in the country which thinks about the poor unlike the previous governments,". After Aurangzeb's death, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Chief of Army Staff General Bipin Rawat had separately visited the family to express their condolences.

Earlier, state president of BJP Ravinder Raina announced the decision of Mr Hanief and Mr Sharma to join the party.

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