Cong to boycott BDC polls in J&K
JAMMU: In a U-turn, the Congress on Wednesday announced it would boycott the upcoming Block Development Council (BDC) polls in Jammu and Kashmir, days after saying it will take part in the October 24 election.
The opposition party cited the “indifferent” attitude of the state administration and the continued detention of its senior leaders in the wake of the Centre revoking the state’s special status under Article 370 of the Constitution to justify its decision to boycott the polls.
The BDC polls will be the first to be held in the state since its special status under Article 370 was revoked on August 5.
Despite expressing its reservation on the timing of the polls and the ongoing security situation in the state, the Congress, along with the National Panthers Party, had decided to take part in the BDC election last week.
JAMMU: Jammu and Kashmir Congress president G A Mir on Wednesday accused the Bjpled government at the Centre of destroying the state by unilaterally abrogating provisions of Article 370 and bifurcating it into two union territories.
The Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) chief said the situation in the valley is the "worst ever" despite claims of restoration of normalcy by the government. "Congress at the national and the state level has already made its stand clear on the developments of August 5 and 6 (when the special status was revoked under Article 370).
"It was done in an undemocratic and unconstitutional manner under a conspiracy to destroy our beautiful state which has its own identity before independence of the country and became part of India like other states post independence," Mir told reporters in his maiden press conference after the abrogation of special status of the state.
Mir, who was released recently after 55 days of house arrest, said he was not being allowed to visit Kashmir, where the majority of the political leaders including three former chief ministers -- Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah of National Conference and PDP president Mehbooba Mufti are currently under detention.