BJP national general secretary Ram Madhav on Wednesday accused the National Conference and the People's Democratic Party of taking support from ex-militants for the assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir, and said that the two parties wanted to take the Union territory back to its "trouble-filled days."
Referring to the Abdullahs and Muftis, Madhav, who is the party's in-charge for J-K, said the two families needed to be shown the door.
"I have information that ex-militants are openly campaigning for the 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 and support new leadership which wants peace and progress," Madhav told reporters here.
Referring to the elections manifestos released by the NC and the PDP which promise the restoration of Article 370 and statehood, resolution of the Kashmir issue, and talks with Pakistan, Madhav said the two regional parties wanted to take J-K back to its old, trouble-filled days.
"I want to remind the people of J-K that the NC, PDP, and others have brought up manifestos which will take J-K back to old, trouble-filled days," he said.
He added that new parties and leaders would emerge in the Kashmir valley, while in the Jammu region, the BJP would emerge as a representative of peace and development.
He said a new government, led by the BJP, would be formed in J-K.
Asked about many young faces contesting the polls, the BJP leader said this was the strategy of the people of J-K as they wanted new leadership.
"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 need to be shown the door. This state needs to be rid of those families," he said, referring to the families of NC president Farooq Abdullah and PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti.
Asked whether the BJP would ally with any party if there was a fractured mandate, Madhav said the BJP would emerge as the single largest party, but "if there is such a situation, we will discuss it afterward."
He welcomed the entry of former members of the banned Jamaat-e-Islami (Jei) into the election fray.
"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 (former members of JeI) 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 added.
The BJP national general secretary said the Union Home Minister would address an election rally in the Jammu region on September 6.
"After that, the prime minister and other leaders will also visit," he said.
Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by The Telegraph Online staff and has been published from a syndicated feed.
