BJP national general secretary Ram Madhav, who is on Mission Kashmir, on Wednesday alleged that ex-militants were openly campaigning for National Conference and People’s Democratic Party Candidates in the Assembly polls.
“I have information that ex-militants are openly campaigning for candidates of the NC and PDP. The people will have to defeat the parties who want to take J&K back to its bad days. We hope that people will support new leadership, which wants peace and progress in J&K,” Madhav told reporters here.
He was accompanying party’s candidate from Lal Chowk assembly constituency Aijaz Hussain during filing of nominations.
Referring to the election manifestos of NC and PDP, which promised restoration of Article 370 and statehood, Madhav said the parties want to take J&K back to its old and trouble-filled days.
He said new parties, new leaders will emerge in Kashmir while in Jammu region, the BJP will emerge as a representative of peace and development.
“A good number of youth are coming forward and they should be supported. This state was under the grip of two families, those two families needed to be shown the door. This state needs to be rid of those families,” Madhav said.
He said BJP would emerge as the single largest party in J&K Assembly polls.
Asked whether the BJP will ally with any party if there is a fractured mandate, Madhav said, “If there is such a situation, we will discuss it afterwards”.
Welcoming the entry of former members of banned Jamaat-e-Islami into the election fray, he said, “There is space for everyone in a democracy. We welcome everyone who wants to come forward to contest elections through democracy. But, no one should contest the polls using the support of terrorists and ex-militants”.
“The polls will be held peacefully and in a transparent manner. That is the assurance of (Narendra) Modi, like the Parliament polls were conducted in a transparent manner. Many people have realised that elections are conducted here in a free and fair manner. So, that is why they have come forward to contest, and we welcome everyone who wants to contest,” he said.