Srinagar, August 11, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
The Jammu and Kashmir unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has suspended its Pulwama district president, Er Syed Showkat Gayoor Andrabi, pending an inquiry into an extortion case registered against him.
The disciplinary action was taken on the recommendation of advocate Sunil Sethi, chairman of the J&K BJP disciplinary committee, and in consultation with J&K BJP president and MP Sat Sharma and party General Secretary Mohammad Anwar Khan.
In a statement, the BJP said disciplinary proceedings had been initiated against Andrabi following the registration of the FIR. He will remain suspended from the party until the inquiry is completed.
The party said the action reflected its commitment to maintaining high standards of discipline, integrity and morality in public life.
The latest suspension comes days after the J&K BJP suspended nine local functionaries and removed them from their organisational posts on August 7 following an unauthorised rally in Anantnag on August 5, where derogatory and allegedly anti-women slogans were raised in connection with the abrogation of Article 370.
The BJP leadership said the procession had neither been authorised nor organised by the party’s Union Territory unit.
J&K BJP General Secretary Ashok Koul and party spokesperson Altaf Thakur publicly distanced the organisation from the controversial remarks.
Nine local office-bearers from Anantnag, Shangus and Pahalgam had their primary party memberships suspended pending an inquiry.
Mainstream political parties in the Valley criticised the slogans, describing them as an insult to the dignity of Kashmiri women. National Conference leaders also called for police cases against those involved.
The suspended BJP members subsequently issued public apologies but alleged that their action was linked to an internal party dispute after they raised corruption-related complaints against the party’s local leadership.
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