Jammu, Apr 23: In a noteworthy statement, a senior state BJP leader Saturday said the rigged elections of 1987 forced United Jihad Council (UJC) chief Muhammad Yousuf Shah alias Syed Salah-ud-Din to take to arms, reports Greater Kashmir.
“Faulty administrative functioning in the state and rigged assembly elections of 1987 forced the UJC chief Syed Salah-ud-Din to pick up the gun,” former union minister of state for defence and BJP legislature party leader, Chaman Lal Gupta told reporters here today.
“If we go into the history of Jammu and Kashmir, former minister Ghulam Mohi-ud-Din Shah, who was losing 1987 assembly elections with a huge margin, was declared winner on the directions of the then government. Everybody knows that Syed Salah-ud-Din who was at that time in mainstream and had contested the said election was forced to pick up the gun alongwith his colleagues following mass rigging of that election by the government,” Gupta said.
Gupta made these remarks in the backdrop of action against him by the party high-command for cross-voting in the recent Legislative Council polls which he said were also `rigged’.
“This is also the matter of probe that whether our seven MLAs have betrayed the party or not. There should be probe as how seven MLAs cross-voted. Mera Yeh Maanana Hai Ki Yahan Par Bahut Kuch Hota Hai (Anything is possible in Jammu and Kashmir,” he remarked.
Gupta said a bigger conspiracy was being hatched by “external and internal forces” aimed at taking Jammu and Kashmir to the pre-1953 position.
“Some external forces in collusion with internal forces are bent upon to take the state to the pre-1953 position by implementing the recommendations of Interlocutors. These external forces couldn’t succeed unless they get the logical support of internal forces (insiders),” the BJP leader said.
He said all-out efforts were being made to implement the recommendations of the Interlocutors who have recommended pre-1953 status for Jammu and Kashmir. “These elements are bent upon denting BJP’s image as they know that it is the only party which could oppose all such manipulations and fight against these forces,” he said, adding “All such developments and attempts will harm the interests of Jammu.”
He alleged that attempts were also being made to uproot BJP from Jammu and Kashmir.
Gupta, who is among the seven MLAs suspended of the party high command for cross-voting in April 13 LC polls, also questioned the suspension, saying the central leadership should make public the parameters and criteria for singling out seven MLAs while sparing other four in cross-voting fiasco.
On Friday, two suspended MLAs of the party, Baldev Raj Sharma and Lal Chand had also questioned the central leadership’s action and had asked the party high command to show the evidence and criteria on the basis of which seven MLAs were suspended.
Gupta termed the cross-voting fiasco as “unprecedented tragedy” and “unforgivable”, saying the incident is “highly condemnable” and it never happened in the history of the BJP.
He, however, denied that he has “betrayed” the party and remarked, “Time and again I have proved my loyalty. It was highly painful moment of my life when I was included among those seven MLAs who were suspended for cross-voting. I want to fully deny it as I have never betrayed the party and whatever party high command directed me, I followed that with full zeal and honesty.”
“I want to know as to what parameters they have used to single-out the seven MLAs while sparing the other four. The criterion should be made public and the decision should be judicious so that public come to know who the real culprits were,” he demanded.
Meanwhile, in virtual revolt against the party action, another BJP MLA, Prof Gharu Ram, has requested the Speaker Muhammad Akbar Lone to “treat his resignation withdrawn” as and when forwarded to him by the BJP high command.
Joining other five suspended MLAs, Gharu Ram shot a letter to the Speaker, requesting him to turn down his resignation if the BJP high command forwards it to him.
Sources said that he also reposed faith in the leadership of Chaman Lal Gutpa, saying he was their leader in the Legislative Assembly.
On Thursday, five BJP legislators had met the Speaker and gave in writing that the resignation letters which they gave to the party high command should be considered withdrawn.
