Srinagar
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday asserted that the boycott of Block Development Council (BDC) elections by mainstream political parties was an attempt to stultify people but virtually scores of proxy candidates have been pushed by NC, PDP, Congress and others into fray. It said that had authorities not detained mainstream politicians after abrogation of Article 370, they would have disturbed the peace of Jammu and Kashmir as they did in past.
BJP State General Secretary (Organization) Ashok Koul asserted that the boycott of BDC polls by mainstream political parties was an attempt to befool people of Jammu and Kashmir. “Boycotting publically BDC polls by NC, PDP, Congress and others was an attempt to stultify people of Jammu and Kashmir with an aim to gain political mileage but virtually they have pushed scores of proxy candidates into fray which speaks their double talk”.
Koul said, “In the forthcoming BDC polls, Panch’s & Sirpanch’s will elect Chairman who will monitor development works at district level onwards”, added that “It was imperative to conduct BDC polls as people at grass root level could not approach bureaucracy for redressal of their issues “.
He added, “In absence of an elected government, it is bureaucracy who took over all development works in Jammu and Kashmir”, He further added, “BJP from the day one was determined to conduct Panchayat elections followed by BDC polls”.
To a question about Legislative Assembly elections, Koul said, “LA elections won’t be held instantly. First there will be delimitation which may take 3 or 6 months or a year, so hopefully by the end of 2020 or in the first half of 2021, LA polls likely to be held in Jammu and Kashmir”.
He told “I visited Leh, Kargil and Kashmir but not a single person told me where are NC, Congress, PDP or others, because they know these parties have pushed scores of proxy candidates into fray and are befooling masses in the name of boycott”.
He added, “What they did or didn’t, but are supporting proxy candidates in upcoming BDC elections”. He also said, “It is lame to say that mainstream political parties are staying away from BDC polls”.
About detention of mainstream political leaders across Jammu and Kashmir, BJP leader Ashok Koul said, “Had authorities not detained mainstream politicians after abrogation of Article 370, they would have disturbed the law and order of Jammu and Kashmir as they did in past”.
He added, “What happened in 2008, 2010 and 2016 that was all sponsored by these mainstream political parties for their political benefits. It was in the interest of peace of J&K that these leaders have been taken into custody”, however he maintained that “The arrested leaders are gradually being released”. (KNS)
