AAP Trade Terror Allegations In Escalating Jammu And Kashmir Political Row

A heated political feud has erupted between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Jammu and Kashmir, with both parties accusing each other’s members of having ties to terrorist organizations. The dispute began when the BJP alleged that AAP MLA Mehraj Malik, recently detained under the Public Safety Act (PSA), glorified Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Burhan Wani, killed by security forces in 2016. AAP retaliated by releasing a list of BJP functionaries, including district presidents, allegedly linked to terrorism.

Senior AAP leader and MP Sanjay Singh dismissed the BJP’s claims against Malik, accusing the BJP of harboring “retired terrorists” within its ranks. Singh highlighted the case of Talib Hussain Shah, former head of the BJP’s IT cell for Minority Morcha in Jammu, who was arrested in July 2022 as a wanted Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist. Villagers in Reasi captured Shah and an accomplice, recovering a cache of arms. Singh, who traveled to Srinagar to protest Malik’s detention, claimed police prevented him from holding a press conference, alleging BJP interference.

In response, BJP spokesman Abhijeet Jasrotia refuted AAP’s accusations, specifically denying that BJP leader Fayaz Ahmad Najar had terrorist ties, clarifying that a different individual, Fayaz Ahmad Bhat, was involved. The BJP also pointed to 22 FIRs against Singh and claimed an AAP candidate in the last Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections was jailed under the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (TADA) Act. Jasrotia remained silent on other AAP allegations against BJP members.

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The escalating war of words has intensified political tensions in the region, raising concerns about the vetting processes of political parties and the use of stringent laws like the PSA against elected representatives. Authorities have yet to comment on the ongoing investigations into the alleged terrorist affiliations of party members.

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