'Ex-militants openly campaigning ... ': BJP's Ram Madhav targets NC, PDP

NEW DELHI: BJP leader Ram Madhav on Wednesday levelled a big charge against the Mehbooba Mufti's People's Democratic Party (PDP) and Farooq Abdullah's National Conference (NC), claiming that both the parties have the backing of ex-militants for the upcoming assembly polls.
Madhav, who is BJP's in-charge for J&K assembly elections, said both parties want to take the region back to its "trouble-filled days".
"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 was quoted as saying by the news agency PTI.
Madhav also criticised the NC and the PDP for promising Article 370 restoration in the poll manifestos, which included other issues like Kashmir resolution, and talks with Pakistan, with which India currently has strained relations since the scrapping of J&K's special status.
The BJP's national general secretary said both Mufti and Abdullah families need to be shown the door in the polls.
"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, adding, new parties, new leaders will emerge in the Kashmir valley, while in Jammu region, the BJP will emerge as a representative of peace and development.
The BJP leader further referring to the families of NC president Farooq Abdullah and PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti, said: "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."
Madhav on a scenario of BJP failing to pull off the election on its own, said "if there is such a situation, we will discuss it afterwards".
He assured that polling in the Valley will be held peacefully and in transparent manner like the Lok Sabha elections and welcomed the entry of former members of the banned Jamaat-e-Islami (Jei) into the election fray.
"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.