Srinagar, April 9 (IANS): In a setback for the BJP, its candidate from the Srinagar Lok Sabha seat Wednesday resigned from the party's basic membership over its "anti-Kashmir" and "anti-Muslim" manifesto for the elections.

Arif Majid Pampori, who was to file his nomination papers Wednesday, decided not to do so and instead resigned.

Talking to media persons here, Pampori said: "I had asked BJP president Rajnath Singh not to include issues like abrogation of Article 370, Ram Mandir and a common civil code in the party's manifesto as these are issues which are highly sensitive for Muslims of the country in general and those of Jammu and Kashmir in particular."

However, he regretted his advice was ignored.

"In protest, I have resigned from the basic membership of the party and I shall not be filing nomination papers as the BJP candidate. I have been with the BJP for the last five years," said Pampori who belongs to the Safa Kadal area.