SRINAGAR, Aug 7: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday suspended nine party functionaries, including district-level office bearers, over controversial slogans raised during a rally in Anantnag celebrating the abrogation of Article 370.
The disciplinary action came a day after the party distanced itself from the August 5 procession at Housing Colony, Khanabal, stating that the event was neither organised nor authorised by its Anantnag district unit and had been held without the required permission from the district administration.
In a statement, the BJP said it had taken serious note of objectionable and derogatory remarks made against “mothers and sisters” during the rally, describing the conduct as unacceptable and contrary to the party’s discipline, dignity and core principles.
Following consultations with BJP J&K General Secretary (Organisation) Ashok Koul, General Secretary Anwar Khan, party spokesperson and Anantnag district Prabhari Altaf Thakur, and members of the district core committee, the party decided to initiate strict disciplinary action against those responsible for organising and participating in the procession.
Those suspended include District General Secretary Nisar Ahmad Bhat, District Secretaries Khursheed Ahmad Sofi and Aabida Rafiq, Shangus constituency president Irshad Ahmad Malik, former district vice-president Mohd Maqbool Ganie, and Pahalgam constituency president Waheed Ahmad Itoo.
The party also removed Nisar Ahmad Hakeem, District Secretary of Kisan Morcha Feroz Ahmad Hajam, and District Secretary of Mahila Morcha Sabrooza Akhter from their organisational posts.
The BJP said all nine leaders have been relieved of their responsibilities with immediate effect and their primary membership of the party has been suspended until further orders.
The statement, however, did not mention senior BJP leader and former MLC Sofi Yousuf, who led the procession.
Videos of the rally circulated widely on social media, showing participants raising derogatory slogans referring to Kashmiri women. The slogans triggered sharp criticism from leaders of the ruling National Conference, who accused the BJP of insulting Kashmiri women and demanded strict action against those responsible.
