LG Manoj Sinha knows better how to deal with situation, says BJP’s Sofi Yusuf
Junaid Shah
Srinagar, August 07 (KINS): The killing of a Sarpanch affiliated with BJP has once again triggered fear among the grassroots representatives with many resigned or disassociated with mainstream parties in Kashmir.
On Thursday, suspected militants shot dead BJP Sarpanch Sajad Ahmad Khanday in Qazigund area of Kulgam district. While on Wednesday, a BJP Sarpanch Arif Ahmad was shot at, leaving him critically injured.
These attacks have created a fear among political workers, panches, sarpanches, and councilors in the valley. Many have fled their homes.
“We put our lives in risk after contesting polls but nobody is bothered about our security.
We live under constant fear. The recent attacks on Sarpanches have triggered a fresh fear among grassroots representatives,” a Sarpanch from South Kashmir told news agency Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS).
Several political workers mostly associated with the BJP have resigned.
Muhammad Rafiq Bhat, BJP General Secretary for Dooru constituency in South Kashmir’s Anantnag district, announced his resignation from the party on Thursday.
Independent Sarpanch Muhammad Iqbal from Chandan Pajan area of Devsar, Kulgam uploaded a video on social media announcing his resignation.
Several BJP workers from Kulgam and Anantnag resigned from the party on Thursday seeking forgiveness from people.
On Wednesday, three BJP workers from Qazigund had announced their resignations.
Defying militant threats, the Panchayat members contested the Panchayat polls during November-December 2018 with an assurance by the government that Panchayat members will be provided security.
The Panchayat election in 2018, was largely boycotted in Kashmir. In the Valley out of 20093 Panch and Sarpanch seats, only 6162 Panches and 1366 Sarpanches were elected in the polls while 12565 constituencies have remained vacant. The authorities have failed to conduct elections on these vacant seats.
Several BJP leaders have also resigned from the party in North Kashmir.
This comes after a BJP youth leader Waseem Bari along with his father and brother were killed in North Kashmir’s Bandipora district last month.
Senior BJP leader Sofi Yusuf said many party workers have resigned because of the fear.
“Militants are attacking BJP workers and leaders. Panches and Sarpanches don’t have proper security. They are resigning for their safety. There are many elements in Kashmir who don’t want the strengthening of BJP,” Yusuf told KINS.
“BJP workers will fight. We celebrated the first anniversary of the abrogation of Article 370 on August 5. We told previous Lieutenant Governor G C Murmu to provide security to Panches, Sarpanches, and councilors. But we now have a political leader who is LG of J&K who knows well how to deal with the situation,” he said.
He said Manoj Sinha has been appointed LG of J&K as the Centre knows where to utilize services of such people.
“I have been saying a political process shall be started which is for betterment of J&K. There are some people who do politics on fake promises. But people are educated and they know the politics of these politicians,” he said.(KINS)
