Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi on Monday slammed the government over the poor turnout in the Srinagar parliamentary by-poll, saying it reflects the "total failure" of the state's ruling BJP-PDP alliance and the Centre's Kashmir policy.
"Decades of hard work to build trust in the democratic process in Kashmir reversed in less than three years by the BJP government," said Gandhi on his official Twitter account.
"The elections in Kashmir reflect the total failure of the BJP-PDP alliance and the government's Kashmir policy," he added.
The Congress party also demanded the resignation of Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti saying the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and People's Democratic Party (PDP) government has failed the "litmus test" by failing to fairly conduct the Lok Sabha by-poll on Sunday.
"The alliance of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and People's Democratic Party (PDP) is against the wishes of the people of the state. We have always called it an unholy alliance. It has been proven now," Congress MP Sushmita Dev told reporters outside Parliament.
At least eight civilians were killed and scores injured in firing by security forces as mobs tried to attack polling stations in Srinagar parliamentary constituency during Sunday's by-poll, which saw just seven percent balloting.
"The BJP-PDP government has failed the litmus test. It has failed to conduct the election in a fair manner and has failed to ensure voter turn out. By not turning up, people have given a 'no confidence' verdict to this government," Dev said.
"This government has spoken of accountability and transparency. We demand that the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir should resign forthwith because it is evident she has lost people's trust," she added.
The Congress leader also added that "if at all the Narendra Modi government has a Kashmir policy", that policy has "miserably failed".
--IANS
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