Panthers complain to EC against PDP MLA’s ‘Hindu CM’ remark
Jammu: Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party on Thursday approached the Election Commission against PDP MLA Peerzada Mansoor for saying that only a Muslim can become the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir and urged the poll panel to disqualify the legislator’s party.
“This statement of the PDP leader is gross violation of the Code of Conduct. Needs urgent and immediate action,” JKNPP patron Bhim Singh said.
Singh today sent a letter of complaint in this regard to Chief Election Commissioner V S Sampath from here.
“PDP has to be disqualified as recognised political party in the State,” the JKNPP leader said.
“It creates further communal polarisation in J and K with an intention to create favour for PDP in the Valley and for BJP in Jammu region,” he said.
Mansoor has stoked a controversy by saying that only a Muslim can become the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir.
“There are certain parties which are trying to forge an alliance with communal elements and want to impose Hindu chief minister here. But let me make it clear that Jammu and Kashmir is a Muslim-majority State and can be ruled by a Muslim chief minister only,” the Shangus MLA had said at a workers convention in Anantnag district on Tuesday.
In the complaint to the EC, Singh said, “I am bringing it to your kind notice in view of the Model Code of Conduct, which has become a casualty in J and K by the state government as well as some political parties. This morning, a statement was published widely which said, ‘No Hindu can become the Chief Minister of J and K.
“The Constitution of J and K and the People’s Representation Act of J and K provide clear mandate that any person qualified to be a legislator in the State is competent to hold any ministerial job and is qualified to be a chief minister of the State irrespective of his religion, region, caste or otherwise.”
“This statement of the PDP leader is gross violation of the Code of Conduct and needs urgent and immediate action. PDP has to be disqualified as recognised political party in the State,” he said in the complaint. (PTI)