Activist terms BJP important factor for Govt. formation in J-K

Amid the ongoing counting of votes for the Jammu and Kashmir assembly election, social activist Ashoke Pandit on Tuesday termed the Bharatiya Janata party (BJP) as an important factor for government formation in the state.

"I was never of the opinion that the BJP will not do well in Jammu and Kashmir. Jharkhand they have swept cleanly. In Jammu and Kashmir my personal experience was that the BJP will become a party which will be a factor without which the government will not be formed in the state and I think the dent which the BJP has created in Jammu and Kashmir itself is a very big victory for the party," said Pandit.

He added that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's impact in Jammu and Kashmir has played an important role; otherwise the BJP was never in the counting of being considered to rule Jammu and Kashmir.

"Making a dent in the three families in Jammu and Kashmir -- the Congress, the People's Democratic Party (PDP) and the National Conference (NC)-- who used to exchange power after every five years playing a relay game, has been put to an end. As a Kashmiri I am excited about it," Pandit added.

Reacting to the issue of Article 370 in the state, he said that it is an important issue, but the issue has to be kept on the side till Jammu and Kashmir develops as a state.

"People want a peaceful life, 370 has given them only guns, bullets, bomb blasts, killings and murders; that's what they have got in the last so many years. We have been thrown out of Kashmir; 370 is responsible for it. Kashmiri Pundits have gone through genocide and ethnic cleansing. Today my basic requirement is a peaceful, developed, interesting life, the way others in other parts of the country are leading," Pandit said.

He also urged the political parties to respect high voter turnout. The voter, he pointed out, has fought ballot with bullet.

He added that if the BJP wins then Jitendra Singh should be the Chief Minister because he is the most intelligent and powerful person.