Srinagar, Sep 21: The state Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday said that the regional mainstream parties have boycotted the upcoming Municipal and Panchayat elections due to fear, saying that the party has quite apprehensions that Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and National conference (NC) will field proxy candidates in the polls.
Talking to Kashmir News Service (KNS), BJP’s Kashmir Incharge, General Secretary, and former minister, Sunil Sharma said that that both the regional have boycotted the elections due to fear but they will surely filed proxy candidates in the upcoming polls.
He said that the parties by boycotting the democratic process have boycotted the democracy, saying that people won’t forgive them over such decision, terming their decision to stay away from the polls as ‘unfortunate’.
Welcoming the participation of Congress in the polls, Sharma said that “we have started fielding our candidates for the upcoming elections and we welcome the participation of Congress as well.”
Asked about Congress statement wherein they claimed that they will defeat BJP in the polls, BJP said that they as a party accept their challenge not only in Kashmir but in the rest of country as well.
“Politics is battle of ideas. What people want about BJP will be infront of you soon,” he said, adding that the BJP has sweeped Congress in other parts of the country, saying that the congress will be sweeped everywhere.
He said that the workers of the party in Jammu and Kashmir are putting their efforts to strengthen the party. Sharma further stated that some elements are trying to disturb the situation but majority of the people are in the interest of democracy.
Asked about the security of candidates, Sharma said that administration has assured them an adequate security and accommodation will be given to the candidates, saying that it has assured them that the fear like atmosphere will be put to an end soon.
Asked about SPO killings at Shopian district today, BJP leader said that as the elections are coming closer, the fear like atmosphere is being created on the ground by the anti-national elements. “We have apprehensions that they will create more fear like situation till the end of the elections,” he said, adding “we not only condemn such killings but we warn them to stay away from such incidents as the nation especially forces will not get panic due to it.”
He added that the militancy will be eradicated soon and Kashmir will be made paradise again.
