Wajahat Shabir
SRINAGAR: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Jammu and Kashmir has suspended the primary membership of nine office-bearers of its Anantnag district unit and removed them from their organisational posts for allegedly organising and participating in an unauthorised Tiranga Rally at Housing Colony, Khanabal, Anantnag, on August 5.
In an office order issued by BJP Anantnag District President Rakesh Koul, the party said the rally was neither organised nor authorised by the BJP District Unit Anantnag and had not obtained the requisite permission from the district administration.
The action comes amid a controversy over an alleged slogan raised during the rally — “Maklow Azi Hund Te FAZI Hund Azat” — which triggered widespread criticism from political parties and civil society. The slogan was widely interpreted as making derogatory references to the dignity and honour of Kashmiri women.
Referring to the incident, the BJP said it had taken serious note of the “objectionable and derogatory remarks” allegedly made against “our mothers and sisters” during the rally, describing such conduct as “wholly unacceptable” and contrary to the values, discipline, dignity and principles of the Bharatiya Janata Party.
The decision to initiate disciplinary action was taken after detailed deliberations with BJP J&K State General Secretary (Organisation) Ashok Koul, State General Secretary Anwar Khan, State Spokesperson and Anantnag Prabhari Altaf Thakur, along with the BJP District Core Committee, Anantnag.
Pending further inquiry, the party has removed the following office-bearers from all party posts with immediate effect and suspended their primary membership: Nisar Ahmad Bhat, District General Secretary, Khursheed Ahmad Sofi, District Secretary, Aabida Rafiq, District Secretary, Irshad Ahmad Malik, Constituency President, Shangus (Anantnag East), Mohd Maqbool Ganie, Former District Vice President, Waheed Ahmad Itoo, Constituency President, Pahalgam, Nisar Ahmad Hakeem, District Secretary, Feroz Ahmad Hajam, District Secretary, Kisan Morcha and Sabrooza Akhter, District Secretary, Mahila Morcha
The office order also clarified that Alveer Ahmad Dar of Batengoo, Anantnag, and Fancy Akhter of Hangulgund, Kokernag, are not associated with the BJP District Unit Anantnag and do not hold any organisational post or responsibility in the district unit.
The party said a further inquiry into the incident is underway and the suspension of the nine members will remain in force until further orders.
The disciplinary action follows a controversy over an alleged slogan raised during the August 5 Tiranga rally in Khanabal, Anantnag. Videos from the event showed participants raising the slogan, “Maklow Azi Hund Te FAZI Hund Azat,” which drew sharp criticism from political parties, particularly the National Conference, and sparked outrage on social media.
The slogan was widely interpreted as containing derogatory references to the dignity and honour of Kashmiri women. Amid the backlash, BJP leaders distanced the party from the remarks, maintaining that they did not reflect the party’s ideology. The BJP’s Anantnag district unit subsequently declared that the rally was neither organised nor authorised by the party and initiated disciplinary action against those allegedly involved.
Meanwhile, J&K Minister and National Conference leader Sakina Itoo strongly condemned the slogan allegedly raised during the rally, calling it an insult to the dignity of Kashmiri women.
In a post on X, Itoo said, “‘Azzi hundte Fazzi hund Izzat…’ the irresponsible and derogatory slogans raised by the BJP Anantnag unit are an insult not only to political discourse but to the dignity of our Kashmiri mothers and sisters.”
She demanded an unconditional apology from the BJP unit, alleging that the incident exposed the party’s “double standards.”
“On one hand, they preach ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’; on the other, they shamelessly demean the honour of the women of Kashmir for political mileage,” she said, adding that such language had no place in a civilised democracy and deserved unequivocal condemnation.
Itoo further said that if the BJP genuinely believed the conduct of those involved was wrong, it should go beyond “symbolic statements.” She demanded that an FIR be registered against those responsible and that appropriate legal and disciplinary action be taken, asserting that accountability should not be selective and that respect for the dignity of women must be upheld through action, not merely words.
