JD(U) suspends senior leader over ‘anti-party’ activities
Srinagar, August 31
Janata Dal (United) on Saturday announced the suspension of party’s Jammu and Kashmir general secretary Vivek Bali for allegedly being involved in “anti-party activities”. The state party president GM Shaheen took the decision a day after The Tribune reported Bali’s comments on the release of stone pelters and political prisoners.
A press statement by Shaheen said the party has suspended Vivek Bali from the basic membership. “This action was taken due to Bali’s involvement in anti-party activities. The decision follows a comprehensive review of the circumstances, underscoring the party’s commitment to upholding its principles and integrity,” the statement said.
The statement also added that party members are advised to take note of this development and continue to support the party’s objectives and leadership.
On Saturday, The Tribune had reported that BJP ally, Janata Dal (United), has promised the release of stone pelters and political prisoners to “promote peace and reconciliation” in its poll manifesto for J&K Assembly elections.
Bali was quoted as saying that the party has sent a list of more than 800 stone pelters to the Union Home Ministry and it is requesting the ministry to give them a chance to rectify their mistakes.
The suspension order by Shaheen comes despite the party clearly stating in its manifesto to “review cases and facilitate the release of political prisoners and stone pelters”. Shaheen has also made similar statements in public as remarked by Bali on Friday.
Bali said on Saturday that he didn’t say anything, which was against the party’s agenda. “What I said has already been mentioned in the manifesto. Since the new NDA government was formed at the Centre, state party president has been publicly saying that party is taking up the matter of stone pelters with the Union government. So I repeated the same,” he said.
Demanding that national leadership should intervene into the matter, Bali said, “I don’t know what is the reason behind my suspension.”
