After uproar over the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) alleged link with captured Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist Talib Hussain, the saffron party has now distanced itself from him and denied that he had ever been a member of the party’s Jammu and Kashmir unit.
Along with another LeT militant, Talib Hussain was arrested in Reasi district on Sunday. Soon after his arrest, allegations surfaced that Talib was member of the saffron party and in fact headed the IT cell of the BJP’s Minority Morcha in Jammu.
The BJP had initially argued that Talib had resigned from the BJP in May this year after being a member for only 18 days. However, J&K BJP Chief Ravinder Raina has now said that Talib was never directly associated with the party in any capacity.
“Talib Hussain wasn’t even a member of the BJP. He used to visit BJP office in the garb of journalist,” Raina was quoted as saying by India Today.
The J&K BJP Chief also alleged that top BJP leaders and office-holders were on Hussain’s hit-list, seeking a probe by central anti-terror agency NIA.
“Talib Hussain did recce of my office. He sent videos of my office to his Pakistani handlers. He used to meet BJP leaders by posing as a journalist. We demand NIA probe,” Raina said.
Minority Morcha Chief Sheikh Bashir has been issued a show-cause notice by the party, and he’s been asked to reply within 48 hours, Rain said. “He [Bashir]doesn’t have the authority to make any appointment. Every appointment in the party is made by the President,” Raina added.
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