During his speech at the 'Panchayat AajTak' event in Srinagar, Union Minister Jitendra Singh dismissed the Opposition's allegations that Engineer Sheikh Abdul Rashid, the independent MP from Baramulla, was a "BJP proxy." Singh strongly countered these claims, arguing that the BJP does not need to rely on proxies or underhanded tactics to secure electoral victories. According to him, the Opposition's accusations reflect their own insecurities and fear of losing, as they resort to such statements out of desperation rather than strength.
Singh's comments were in response to accusations made by the National Conference (NC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) after Engineer Rashid’s recent release from Delhi’s Tihar Jail. Rashid had been imprisoned in connection with a terror funding case. The Opposition parties alleged that Rashid’s release was strategically timed by the BJP-led central government to divide their vote share in the upcoming Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections. They suggested that Rashid's presence in the elections would serve to weaken the Opposition’s chances by siphoning off critical votes.
However, Engineer Rashid himself rejected these claims upon his release, stating that he could not be labeled a BJP proxy, especially considering he had been the target of their political actions. "How can a man who has suffered at the hands of the BJP be their proxy?" Rashid asked, emphasizing his independence and disassociating himself from any alliance with the ruling party.
Jitendra Singh took the opportunity to highlight the BJP’s strength and self-reliance, asserting that the party has the capability to win elections without relying on proxies or alliances. He accused the Opposition of creating false narratives to cover up their own weaknesses and reiterated that the BJP does not need "clutches" to succeed. According to Singh, the BJP's electoral success is driven by its clear ideological stance and strong grassroots support, rather than any covert political maneuvering.
The minister also reflected on the BJP’s previous alliance with the PDP, emphasizing that the decision to end the partnership in 2018 was purely ideological. He said that the BJP had willingly exited the alliance because they felt it was no longer possible to work towards their common minimum programme based on BJP’s principles. Singh stressed that the move to break away from the PDP was a matter of ideological integrity, with no external pressures forcing their hand.
As the political landscape in Jammu and Kashmir intensifies ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections, Singh’s statements reflect the BJP’s confidence in its ability to secure a strong foothold in the region. The accusations and counter-accusations between parties underscore the high stakes, as each political group positions itself strategically for the electoral contest.
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