The BJP Wednesday took a dig at the National Conference, saying it did not filed candidates in Jammu and Ladakh regions fearing a rout at the hands of the saffron party.
J&K BJP spokesperson Brig Anil Gupta (retd) toldreporters here that the NC got just seven per cent vote in the Lok Sabha pollsand is “rattled and unnerved” as the BJP secured a massive 46 percent.
According to Election Commission data, the BJP, which wonthree Lok Sabha seats in Jammu and Kashmir, secured 46.4 per cent votes, itshighest-ever vote share of in the state.
The National Conference, which bagged three seats in theKashmir region, got just 7.89 per cent votes.
“Sensing that they are in danger, the NC is trying tolure people through lollipop politics by promising regional councils, which itstrongly opposed in the past,” Gupta added.
“The NC leadership has begun its ugly campaign of liesand falsehood to mislead the people, as a prelude to its campaign for theassembly elections,” he said.
Reacting to NC provincial president Devender Rana’sstatement on Tuesday that his party will surpass its 1996 tally of 57 seats inthe state assembly, Gupta said much water has flown in the Jhelum and Tawirivers since then, including massive floods which washed away the NC from thepolitical scene of the state.
Rana said the poll outcome on the seats the NC contested is”testimony of the public support” the party enjoys.
Gupta said, “The party (NC) did not field candidates(against BJP in LS polls) in Jammu and Ladakh regions for fear of a defeat (in2014 and 2019). They don’t have cadres and candidates. With a mere 7 per centvote share, how can the party claim to be a voice of the majority?”
He alleged the NC has been instrumental in a “blatantdiscrimination” against Jammu and Ladakh regions.
“Beginning with Lands Reforms Act depriving Jammu Dograsof their landed property, denying citizenship to West Pakistan refugees,promoting gender inequality, declaring July 13 as martyrs day, humiliatingMaharaja Hari Singh, suppressing the Dogra heritage, lopsided recruitment ingovernment jobs and civil secretariat denying proportional representation toJammu are endless points”, the BJP spokesperson said. The NC has to reconcile to the fact that Jammuand Ladakh will never give their mandates to a “pro-terror, pro-separatismand anti-Army party”, Gupta added.