Cong, NC, PDP ''gifted'' militancy to J

Jammu, Mar 1 (UNI) Blaming the successive governments for eruption of militancy, Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party (JKNPP) Chairman, Prof Bhim Singh today said Congress, National Conference (NC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has ''gifted'' militancy to the state.

''These leading political parties have exploited the youth in the state. Just for the sake of their benefit, they used them, which gave birth to the militancy in the state,'' Prof. Bhim Singh told UNI.

He said since 1990, over one lakh youth, who were forced to adopt the path of militancy, have been killed in insurgency operations with the security forces.

''During my silver jubilee caravan, I stayed for a week in Kashmir and invited the youths including the militants and asked them to shun their guns to join me,'' Prof Singh said, adding that his party would welcome the militants with open arms, who would be ready to adopt the path of peace and prosperity.

''Parties like Congress, NC and PDP are the mother of ''corruption'' and ''militancy'' in the state and they are living at the cost of the people of Jammu and Kashmir,'' the JKNPP Chief said.

However, he said his Caravan today took off from Banihal in Ramban district and reached his hometown in district Udhampur this morning. Accompanied by his MLAs and party workers, he addressed a series of meetings and rallies.

UNI VBH AKJ RAI1900