Srinagar, Dec 24 : The Awami National Conference (ANC) on Thursday alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) indulged in ‘political witch-hunt with blatant misuse of agencies, who have gone on a free spree of arrests and raids in Jammu and Kashmir’.
The ANC hit out at the BJP for alleged horse-trading, saying that the saffron party is trying to lure and coerce the independents with intimidation and money power.
The party also announced to file a writ petition before the J&K High Court, challenging the decision of the State Election Commission to declare the Apni Party candidate successful in Bandipora A segment alleged after mass rigging and booth capture.
“An overwhelming majority has reposed their faith in the agenda chalked out by the Peoples Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) primarily for restoration of the Special Status of J&K State as laid down in the Constitution of India. The people have alongside handed over the responsibility on the shoulders of the PAGD to carry out the task for development at the Panchayat levels,” ANC Senior Vice President Muzzafar Shah told reporters during a press conference here on Thursday.
“The BJP-led central government has stooped to new levels of political witch hunting with blatant misuse of agencies, who going on a free spree of arrests, raids and harassment. These measures will not deter us from pursuing our laid down policies. It is shameful for the BJP & it’s allies to lure and coerce the independents with intimidation and money power,” he alleged.
Mr Shah said that they have also decided to filing a writ petition before the J&K High Court, challenging the decision of the State Election Commission declaring the Apni Party candidate successful in Bandipora A segment after mass rigging and booth capture at Garoora A&B booths on December 13. “No action was taken on the two petitions submitted with all records to the Deputy Commissioner Bandipora and the SEC on the polling day,” he alleged.
He said a copy of the fresh petition has been submitted to the Deputy Commissioner, who is the Chief election officer, demanding release of CCTV footage. “The ANC lawyers will be moving the court in case of their demand not being met for a re-poll in Bandipora A constituency, if the CCTV footage is not released that clearly establishes our case of mass rigging and booth capture,” he said.
He claimed that the people of Bandipora have chosen the PAGD candidate Ghulam Mohiudin Bhat to represent them. “The ANC & PAGD expect justice to be delivered by the Court,” Mr Shah said.
Mr Shah further claimed that the PAGD could have bagged 40 more seats if the local workers of some parties had not indulged in the practice of putting up dummy candidates which finally damaged the chances of the alliance both in Kashmir and Jammu divisions.
