Jammu, Apr 30: A senior party leader was dismissed by Jammu and Kashmir BJP chairman Ravinder Raina on Tuesday for “hate speech” and “using unparliamentary language” at an election meeting in Poonch district.The Election Commission rescheduled the elections for May 25 in the Anantnag-Rajouri parliamentary constituency, which includes the Poonch district. From the constituency, PDP president Mehbooba Mufti and National Conference leader Mian Altaf are directly competing. Among the 19 contenders, notable figures are J&K Apni Party head Zafar Iqbal Khan Manhas and Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP) candidate Muhammad Saleem Parray.Raina issued an order removing Poonch district spokesperson Satish Bhargav for six years from the party’s primary membership due to his use of “unparliamentary language and hate speech” and “gross indiscipline.” On the advice of Sunil Sethi, the head of the party’s disciplinary committee, the J&K BJP chief issued the directive. Sethi brought up a video in which Bhargav was heard using unparliamentary language and making threats with hate speech during a meeting in the Mendhar area of Poonch district.“In a disciplined party like the BJP, such behaviour by a top politician is utterly unacceptable and grossly indisciplined. As a result, it is advised that he be immediately banished from the party for a period of six years, according to Sethi, who also stated that since his behaviour is documented, no more investigation is required. In the meantime, the PDP filed a complaint against the BJP for using “intimidation tactics” to compel voters to support the Apni Party candidate with the constituency’s returning officer. PDP leader and former MLC Firdous Tak filed the complaint, stating, “It has come to our attention that there have been alarming instances of intimidation and threats targeting Pahari Muslims, aimed at influencing their voting choices.”He said in his complaint, “In particular, it has been reported that BJP representatives have been openly making threats towards Pahari Muslims, suggesting that a recurrence of the 1947 events could occur if they fail to vote for the candidate backed by the Sangh Parivar i.e Apni Party.” “Such reprehensible tactics not only violate the principles of free and fair elections but also undermine the democratic process by instilling fear and coercion among the voters,” stated Tak, a member of the party’s powerful political affairs committee, in response to the video of Bhargav.The PDP leader demanded that the situation be thoroughly investigated and that appropriate steps be taken to ensure the safety and security of all voters, especially those who might be at risk of being intimidated in this way.
