At a glance: Hina Bhat, BJP's lone Muslim woman face in Kashmir Valley

Dr Hina Bhat is a veteran dentist in Jammu and Kashmir. She is also BJP candidate for the J&K Assembly polls from Amira Kadal Assembly constituency. Apart from the fact that she is a new face in politics, Bhat has recently been in media limelight for making a controversial statement on Article 370 that goes against the traditional stand of the party on this sensitive issue.Nothing less than a shocker, as it came from a BJP candidate, Hina Bhat said that she will be the first to pick up a gun if Article 370 is abrogated ever. The BJP , traditionally, has always stood for the abrogation of this article.Hina Bhat said that Article 370 was all about Kashmir's identity.“If Article 370 is aborogated, then I will be the first one to pick up the gun” stated Bhat as she waved aside claims of it being BJP's main agenda.She is also the Vice President of the BJP's women wing in the state.Let us know more about Hina Bhat, BJP's lone Muslim face in the Kashmir valley:Dr Hina Shafi Bhat is a 34 year old dental surgeon. Her father, Muhammad Shafi Bhat was a senior leader of National Conference. He was an MLA of the NC from the Amira Kadal constituency of Srinagar, but he left the party after the NC denied him party ticket in the 2008 elections from Amira Kadal.Now his daughter, Hina is contesting on BJP ticket from the same constituency.Since ages, her family has been closely associated with the NC. She observed that the party did little for people. Hence it never attracted her. She felt the same where PDP and Congress were concerned. In the 16th Lok Sabha elections, Hina found herself impressed by what Narendra Modi had to say. She was further impressed when she saw him in action. It was the time she considered joining the party.Hina felt that since the time BJP formed the government at the centre, they had done what they had said. She concluded that they wanted to handle Kashmir issue with democratic means and above all “Kashmiryat”.Hence she volunteered to contribute to the party and eventually got a ticket from her father's constituency.Earlier Hina quit her job as a dental surgeon at the SKIMS medical college a few years ago to do social work. Now she has entered politics.Her main focus during the assembly polls will be on youth development. "There are hundreds of youths who are being prosecuted, denied passports and are being unnecessarily targeted. I will reach out to them. I will be pressing the government so that the cases against them be withdrawn," Bhat said.She said, the day it will be proved that the BJP wants to abrogate the Article 370, I will leave the party.Bhat said scrapping Article 370 would be construed as a move against the sentiments of people of the state. She insisted that the BJP wants to focus on development, peace and security and would give a corruption-free government in J&K.Hina Bhat went on to add that if the Article was touched, it would force Kashmiris to pick up guns again. "And you know I am a Kashmiri too. I would be the first to pick up guns.Union Minister and BJP leader Jitender Singh asserted a couple of days back that BJP's stand on Article 370 is "very clear". He said all issues, including the provision, which have been part of the party's manifesto, will be on its agenda."All issues (including Article 370) which have been part of the BJP manifesto all these years will be part of the agenda.They will continue to be so," the Minister of State, PMO, told reporters while inaugurating BJP Media Centre in Srinagar for its "Mission 44+".On AFSPA, Hina Bhat is in complete agreement with BJP. BJP has always opposed repeal of AFSA and Hina Bhat agrees.On Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), she said that Kashmir suffers such a lot from militant activity that AFSPA cannot be lifted. Even Kashmiris know that thinking if the army leaves, it will not take Pakistan even half an hour to occupy us.It will not take 10 minutes for China to occupy us. This force is Indian. We do not have threat from India, but we definitely have one from Pakistan.Hina Bhat is a woman of strong will and determination. Since it is her first step into politics, only votes and her party will decide her fate in this field.Hina believes that through hard work, struggle, determination and change in people's thinking, BJP can achieve its Mission 44+.