Jammu: BJP general secretary Ram Madhav on Friday alleged that activists of the NC and the PDP were trying to derail civic polls in Jammu and Kashmir like the terrorists and were threatening independent candidates.
In a scathing attack on the National Conference (NC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which have announced boycott of the polls, Madhav alleged that the two "dynasty-run parties" were against grassroots democracy in the state.
He, however, praised the Congress for contesting the polls.
"Terrorists and over ground workers are involved in derailing and destabilizing polls. The same is being done by the activists of NC and PDP. We have reports that in several places in Kashmir Valley, the activists of these outfits (NC and PDP) are threatening candidates who are going to file nominations as independents," Madav told reporters here.
The BJP has complained to the administration and the police alleging that NC and PDP activists were threatening candidates who were filing nominations as Independents in urban local body polls in Kashmir.
Madhav said "police have assured us that wherever there are complaints, action has been started". He claimed that while the "top leadership (of NC and PDP) ran away from contesting polls", some of their members were filing nominations as independents. "They are undertaking proxy nominations in these polls. We still welcome them," he said.
He said that during his two-day visit to Kashmir Valley, he has seen that despite "threats and attempts to create fear psychosis, a good number of nominations have been filed by the locals".
"People want the democratic set up at the grassroots level. We appeal to the people of Kashmir Valley that they should stand with those who want installation of grassroots democracy in Kashmir Valley by voting in large numbers," he said.
He said the BJP is trying to encourage all in Kashmir Valley to participate in large number in polls in the Valley.
"We are encouraging all in Kashmir valley to contest polls and we want that there should be peaceful and good elections," he added.
The BJP leader said that the party has fielded maximum candidates from among the locals with only a few from Kashmiri migrants.
"99.9 per cent of candidates, who have filed their nominations on BJP ticket, are locals in Kashmir Valley. Most of our candidates in Kashmir Valley for these polls are locals with some migrants also contesting these polls where migrant population wards are there," he said.