Anantnag or ‘Islamabad’? saffron party not sure

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, May 1

State BJP president Sat Sharma today addressed his maiden rally in Anantnag, but the official press release of the party referred to the south Kashmir district as Islamabad.

The BJP statement was issued with an ‘Anantnag/Islamabad’ dateline even though Anantnag is the official name of this south Kashmir district.

During the rally, Sharma urged people to support the party’s development plan. The state BJP president is on a three-day visit to the Valley. He addressed a rally in Ganderbal district on Saturday and is scheduled to address another gathering in central Kashmir’s Budgam district.

Though the BJP is stating to have enrolled over 3.3 lakh members in the Valley, the claims are yet to be tested and the party continues to hunt for its first-ever win in any election.

Despite hectic campaigning in the last Assembly elections, 33 of the 34 candidates had lost their security deposit in the Valley.

“The BJP is committed to meeting the aspirations of the people in the state. For that, scores of schemes have been launched for the benefit of people. I appeal to the people to cooperate with the party in its development plan,” said Sharma.

He assured people that the BJP was committed to meet aspirations of people in the state. He alleged that the previous NC-Congress coalition government had ‘miserably failed’ to address grievances of people.

State BJP general secretary (organisation) Ashok Koul urged the district administration to listen to grievances of people and resolve those in a time-bound manner.

MLC Sofi Yusuf said the BJP was not anti-Muslim and there was an equal share for Muslim brethren. He appealed to people to ensure the BJP’s victory in upcoming panchayat elections.

District BJP president Rafiq Wani, spokesperson Khalid Jehangir and media in charge Altaf Thakur were present during the rally.