BJP appeals NC to take part in J&K panchayat bypolls

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has appealed the National Conference (NC) to take part in the Panchayat bypolls in Jammu and Kashmir scheduled to be held in March.

BJP state General Secretary Ashok Kaul told reporters in Srinagar that NC should contest the Panchayat polls without putting any conditions.

"We request the National conference to take part in the Panchayat elections, if they take part in the polling, we will welcome them," Kaul said.

He said no big leaders have been needed for the Panchayat elections and NC being a grassroots party must not shy away from taking part in the bypolls.

"Amit Shah and J.P. Nadda are not coming to fight these elections, local leaders will contest these elections," Kaul said.

He said rather than making statements about the polls, the NC must show its strength by taking part in the Panchayat elections.

He said the parties, which boycotted elections in the past, used proxy candidates instead.

"They boycotted the Urban Local Body elections, but put up proxy candidates," he said.

Earlier, NC said there was no point in taking part in the Panchayat polls on party basis when top leadership of the party continued to be under detention after the abrogation of Article 370 on August 5.

To a question about the slapping of the PSA on IAS topper and bureaucrat turned politician Shah Faesal, Kaul said the PSA is not randomly slapped on anybody and there must be some footing for slapping the PSA on Faesal.

"Before slapping the PSA on somebody officers discuss the matter thoroughly," Kaul said. "Did anybody know that what the tainted DSP Davinder Singh was doing? Now, when the facts have come out, people have got to know about his activities."

The Panchayat bypolls will be held in eight phases in the Union Territory from March 5.-IANS