Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 21: Accusing the BJP of unleashing its goons to sabotage the polls in Jammu region and district Udhampur in particular, Harshdev Singh (JKNPP chairman and former Minister) lambasted the local administration for providing shelter to the criminal elements owing allegiance to the Saffron party.
“While the NPP workers were harassed, humiliated, attacked, manhandled and abused on several occasions, the BJP hooligans are granted immunity from legal action and allowed to go scot free despite repeated complaints against them. Two set of laws are running in J&K. One for the BJP and other for the opposition”, said Singh while addressing a press conference here today.
Harshdev said while the Panthers Party workers were booked by the police on frivolous grounds, the BJP leaders and workers were granted immunity despite proven misconduct and criminal conduct on their part. He rued the recent episode wherein FIR was registered against Balwant Singh Mankotia for alleged violation of Model Code of Conduct in the DDC elections has further proved how the administration was being abused by the ruling party for promoting its politics of vendetta.
Reiterating latest episode which brought disgrace to BJP for demeaning entire women folk, Singh said Sarpanch Bhugtarian, who was tutored by some BJP leaders prevented him (Harshdev), wife Manju Singh and son Raj Pratap Singh from entering the polling booth. And when he failed in doing so, he hurled filthy abuses upon Manju Singh using highly derogatory language and tried to assault the family.
Recalling the earlier assault on Manju Singh by BJP goons during DDC elections at village Kail in Majalta, Singh narrated how the Mahila Panther leader contesting election from Khoon constituency was dragged out from her vehicle, assaulted, abused and threatened by one of the drunk ruffians not to dare address the public meeting at the native village of BJP’s Ex-MLA.
Drawing the attention of Lt Governor towards the reign of terror unleashed by the BJP in district Udhampur, Singh sought arrest of all the culprits including the BJP’s Ex-MLA for conspiring assaults on Panther leaders and workers.