As elections in Jammu and Kashmir draw nearer, a new political party was today launched here, promising to be a "popular alternative" to the mainstream parties while denouncing separatists' call for boycott of elections as "illegitimate".
The party, named Jammu and Kashmir Tahreek-i-Haq, is headed by doctor and prominent civil society member Mohammad Ashraf Bhat.
"Boycott of elections is an unnatural exercise. It is illegitimate. Even if there is maximum boycott and only a little percentage of people vote, the government gets formed. So, the people have to see if it benefits them," Bhat, who is the president of the party, said.
Bhat, chairman of the Forum Against Social Evils, a civil society initiative formed in 2006, said his party wants democracy to flourish in the state.
"We want the democracy to flourish here in true essence. Politicians and bureaucrats are servants of the people and not a power. Why call them honourable and VVIPs?," he said.
Bhat said politics provides a platform to the people to fight injustice and strive for their rights.
"We want to fight obscenity and moral waywardness in the society, corruption and injustice. But under the present circumstances, it is not possible. So, we decided to enter the political fray and provide a popular alternative to the people of Kashmir," he said.
He said his party was against holding of elections right now due to the floods.
"The situation is not good for elections, but some parties are power hungry and care only about the chair and not about the people. Some parties like PDP and BJP want the elections to be on time," he said.
"We want rehabilitation of the people affected by the floods. We are demanding our rights and not alms from the government," he said.
