BJP’s Tarun Chugh Accuses National Conference and Congress of Separatism in Jammu and Kashmir

Jammu (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], September 27: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) National General Secretary and incharge of Jammu and Kashmir, Tarun Chugh, has accused the pre-poll alliance of the National Conference (NC) and Congress of promoting separatism.

Chugh stated, “The alliance of the National Conference and Congress in Jammu and Kashmir is speaking the language of separatism. Pakistan’s Defence Minister, Khawaja Asif, himself is saying that the National Conference, Congress, and Pakistan are on the same page. They should tell why they want to release the terrorists who killed civilians.”

He further added, “The language of separatism is the language of NC and Congress. When NC and Congress formed an alliance in the last election, it was a total failure like an expired injection.”

Earlier, Pakistan’s Defence Minister, Khawaja Asif, speaking on Geo News to senior journalist Hamid Mir in a show called Capital Talk, was asked whether Pakistan and the National Conference-Congress alliance are on the same page regarding the restoration of Article 370 and 35A in Jammu and Kashmir. Asif replied, “Absolutely. Even our demand is also the same.”

Asif also claimed that Article 370 could return should the NC-Congress alliance come to power in Jammu and Kashmir. He said, “I think it is possible. Currently, the National Conference and Congress have very big importance over there. The population of the valley has been motivated a lot on this issue and I believe, there is a chance that the Conference (National Conference) will come to power. They have made this an election issue that the status of Jammu and Kashmir should be restored.”

The National Conference and Congress have formed an alliance for the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly polls. The third and final round of elections will be held on October 1, while the counting of votes will take place on October 8.

Meanwhile, NC Vice President Omar Abdullah said on Thursday that he expected a higher turnout in the assembly election. “I was hoping for a little more turnout. Because there was no call for a boycott. There were no attacks. There was no attempt to suppress and threaten the voters,” Omar Abdullah said.

He added, “But I think the central government is also partially responsible for this situation. They have tried to present high turnout as a sign of normalcy at different places.”

On the diplomats’ visits to Jammu and Kashmir, Omar Abdullah said, “They brought the team of diplomats. They wanted to show that there was a big change in Srinagar. The people of Srinagar did not want to be used like this.”

On the voting turnout, he said, “I am thankful to all those who voted for me. Whether they have voted for the National Conference, NOTA, or any other parties, I am thankful to them for voting.”

He further added that “The third phase of voting has the seats of Baramulla, Kupwara, and Bandipora districts in the Kashmir valley, they have traditionally participated in the voting process and we expect high turnout.”

The counting of votes for Jammu and Kashmir and Haryana assemblies will take place on October 8.