Jammu: Minister of State for Defence Chaman Lal Gupta has said that those who are talking of boycotting elections in Jammu and Kashmir are directly or indirectly helping the "misrule" of the National Conference (NC) and creating hurdles in the process of change through Democratic means.

"The menace of terrorism is a big challenge to mankind and it must be defeated. Democratic means are the biggest weapon for this," the senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader said addressing party activists on August 30.

The minister said that the NC was answerable to the people of the state for the spread of militancy over the past six years.

He accused Pakistan of trying to create problems in the democratic process in the state because democracy had been scuttled in that country.

"Pakistan's ISI and its agents are trying to play the same tactics in Jammu and Kashmir to spread violence and gun culture," he said.

The minister blamed both NC and Congress for regional imbalances and said because of their "step-motherly" treatment towards Jammu and Ladakh and their "communal" approach, many problems had erupted and the unity of the state was being threatened.

PTI