Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Ram Madhav on Wednesday made a big allegation against Mehbooba Mufti’s People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and Farooq Abdullah’s National Conference (NC), claiming that both the parties have the support of former terrorists for the upcoming assembly elections. Former BJP national general secretary Ram Madhav said that both the parties want to take the Union Territory back to its ‘troubled days’.
Madhav, who was recently appointed the party’s election in-charge for Jammu and Kashmir, referring to the Abdullah and Mufti families, said that both families need to be shown the way out. He said, “I have information that former terrorists are openly campaigning for National Conference and PDP candidates. People have to defeat those parties who want to take Jammu and Kashmir back to its bad days and support the new leadership which wants peace and progress.”
Madhav was present during the nomination of party candidate Aijaz Hussain from Lal Chowk assembly constituency. Talking to reporters here, Madhav referred to the election manifestos released by the National Conference and PDP and said that both the regional parties want to take Jammu and Kashmir back to its old and problematic days. He said, “I want to remind the people of Jammu and Kashmir that NC, PDP and others have released manifestos which will take Jammu and Kashmir back to the old and problematic days.”
He said that new parties and new leaders will emerge in the Kashmir Valley while in the Jammu region, the BJP will emerge as a representative of peace and development. He claimed that a new government will be formed in Jammu and Kashmir under the leadership of the BJP. When asked about the fielding of many young faces in the elections, the BJP leader said that this is the strategy of the people of Jammu and Kashmir as they want a new leadership.
“A good number of youths are coming forward and they should be supported. This state was in the grip of two families, those two families need to be shown the way out,” he said. Referring to the families of National Conference president Farooq Abdullah and PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti, he said, “The state needs to get rid of these families.” Asked if the BJP would form an alliance with any party in case of a fractured mandate, Madhav said the BJP would emerge as the single largest party but “if such a situation arises, we will discuss it later”. He welcomed the entry of former members of the banned Jamaat-e-Islami in the electoral fray.
He said, “There is a place for everyone in democracy. We welcome all those who want to come forward to contest elections through democracy. But, no one should contest elections using the support of terrorists and former terrorists. Voting will be held in a peaceful and transparent manner. This is (Narendra) Modi’s assurance, just like the Parliament elections were conducted in a transparent manner.”
He said, “Many people (former Jamaat-e-Islami members) have felt that elections are held here in a fair and free manner. So, that is why they have come forward to contest the elections and we welcome all those who want to contest.” The BJP national general secretary said the Union Home Minister will address an election rally in the Jammu region on September 6. He said, “After this the Prime Minister and other leaders will also come.”
