BJP’s Surankote candidate Bukhari dies of heart attack in J&K’s Poonch
Jammu: Former minister and BJP candidate from Surankote, Mushtaq Ahmad Shah Bukhari, died on Wednesday after collapsing at his residence in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district, party leaders said.
He was 75 and is survived by his wife, two daughters and a son.
Bukhari was unwell for some time and suffered a heart attack at 7 am, leading to his death, a BJP leader said.
Bukhari, a two-time former MLA from Surankote, joined the BJP in February this year after the Centre granted Scheduled Tribe status to his Pahari community.
He was fielded from Surankote, which went to polls along with 25 other segments in the second phase on September 25.
Bukhari had quit the National Conference in February 2022 after four decades long association following an argument with party president Farooq Abdullah over the Scheduled Tribe status.
Jammu and Kashmir BJP president Ravinder Raina and the leaders of other political parties condoled Bukhari's death.
“Bukhari was a mass leader and his death left a void which is very hard to fill,” Raina said.
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Ban is not shocking, if I join BJP my ban will be lifted: Bajrang on NADA suspension
New Delhi (PTI): Suspended for four years due to his "refusal" to provide sample for dope test, Olympic medallist Indian wrestler Bajrang Punia on Wednesday said it was a vindictive move by the government which would quash the ban if he joins the BJP.
NADA said Bajrang violated the rules by refusing to give sample during selection trials for the national team on March 10.
The anti-doping body had first suspended the Tokyo Games bronze medallist wrestler on April 23 for the offence following which, the sport's world governing body UWW had also slapped him with a suspension.
"It is not shocking because this issue about trial has been going on for last one year. I have said in the past too that I have not refused to give sample to NADA. When they visited my home to conduct the dope test, they came with an expiry kit (in December, 2023). I have also posted this on social media," Barjrang told reporters.
Punia, along with fellow wrestler and Olympian Vinesh Phogat, have joined the Congress Party earlier this year.
Bajrang added in his defence, "You can't give expiry kit to any player and as far as I am concerned, my team was there, so they saw it. They came carrying expiry kits dated 2020, 2021, 2022.
"I gave my urine sample but then my team checked the kit and found out that it was expired. So we made a video of the kit and we mailed NADA, called them to inform about the mistake. But they did not accept their mistake."
The wrestler alleged that the government is looking to get back at them for their involvement in the long-drawn sit-in protest against former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, a BJP politician.
"I also feel that because of our protest in support of the women wrestlers, they are trying to exact revenge because all the agencies are fall under the purview of the government.
"I have been competing for the last 10-12 years and I have given sample during all tournaments, during the India camps. But the government's motive is to break us, make us bow down to them. If I join the BJP then I think all my bans will be lifted," Bajrang claimed.
The suspension means that Bajrang will not be able to return to competitive wrestling or apply for a coaching job abroad, if he aspires to, till April 22, 2028.
