Political activist, 2 others join BJP in Jammu

Three prominent persons of Kishtwar, including a political activist, joined the BJP here on Sunday in the presence of Jammu and Kashmir party unit president Ravinder Raina.

Veteran political activist Omar Prakash Parihar, former chief engineer Bhushan Lal Dhar and former dental assistant Gopinath, all residents of Dachhan village, joined the BJP and pledged to strengthen it at the grassroots level, a party spokesman said.

Meanwhile, BJP spokesperson Brig Anil Gupta (retd) targeted the opposition parties in the state over the strike called by the National Panthers Party (NPP). He said the failure of the "Jammu bandh" called by the NPP on Saturday exposed the "hollowness" of the opposition, proving the proverb "empty vessels make more noise" true.

Accusing the Congress, which supported the bandh call, of lacking the courage to face the people on its own strength, Gupta said the party has tried to cover its own failure by blaming the BJP.

"They need to win the confidence of the people ...