Cong to contest in J&K, ‘can’t give BJP open field’

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, September 19

After several rounds of deliberations, the Congress today announced to contest the municipal elections in Jammu and Kashmir. 

  Urging the government to ensure security of candidates, state party chief GA Mir questioned the National Conference and Peoples Democratic Party’s decision  to boycott the polls, saying they were purposely leaving the field open for the BJP.

   “We will come forward with full force in the Urban Local Bodies (ULB) elections to keep the communal forces at bay. We don’t want to give them an open field and let them occupy the democratic institutions in small towns.”

The announcement came a day after Mir consulted the party high command. The BJP was the only party that had so far decided to take part in the polls. Mir said the Congress could review its decision if the government failed to provide a conducive atmosphere for polls. 

“The EC has refused to provide security to any candidate and the Governor has said foolproof arrangements are in place… but there is nothing on ground as of now. We will monitor the security situation… they (govt) have to make the atmosphere conducive and fulfil promises made to people… We will take part with certain conditions,” he said. Mir said the NC and PDP had kept the field open for “communal forces”. 

“Those who took the boycott route… in my heart for a minute there was a doubt that there may be some pre-decided under-carpet game… Field is being kept open for the BJP and the RSS. Secular forces were made only for this day to keep communal forces at bay.”