Addresses election rallies in Bijbehara, Anantnag

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference Vice President Omar Abdullah on Sunday addressed back to back election rallies in Dialgam Anantnag and Bijbehara.
Addressing the gatherings, Omar said, “It is necessary to reject the self-interested people who are aiding BJP in undermining the special position of Jammu and Kashmir. We are not after power, we want the voices of our people to be heard in offices. We want their fundamental rights to be protected. Power for us is a means to serve people and uphold their rights.”
The programmes were organised by party’s senior leaders and in-charge constituencies Dr. Bashir Ahmad Veri and Abdul Majeed Larami. On this occasion party candidate for Anantnag- Rajouri constituency Mian Altaf Ahmed, Political Advisor to VP Mudassar Shahmiri, senior leaders Nazir Ahmed Khan Gurezi, Altaf Ahmad Wani were also present.
Criticising PDP for its duplicity, Omar said, “Before pointing figures at us they should see if their hands are clean. Their swear words on unity have proven hollow. Had they been concerned about defeating BJP, they wouldn’t have contested elections. In every speech Mehbooba Mufti says that the National Conference is selfish, because we said that the three seats that the National Conference has already won should be our candidates. Now, if we are selfish, are the Congressmen also selfish, they are also standing with us on this seat, is Tarigami also selfish who has announced to support Mian Altaf Ahmed? National Conference emerged as the single largest party in the Hill Council elections of Kargil and at that time the Chairman is also of the National Conference and If we were selfish, we would have fielded our candidate there. We gave up this seat only to fight against those who have spread the poison of communalism. Those who destroyed Jammu and Kashmir, who divided this historic state, who destroyed our heritage, identity and individuality must be defeated.”
Speaking about Mehbooba Mufti, Omar Abdullah said, “Don’t make excuses, if we are selfish, then tell the people here whether the National Conference did not extend a hand of friendship to the PDP to keep the BJP out in 2015. Can you deny the fact that we made an unconditional offer to PDP to form the government? Our aim was to somehow keep BJP out of Jammu and Kashmir. We had said in clear words that we don’t want ministry, Rajya Sabha seat, MLC, chairmanship etc., just don’t bring communal powers into Jammu and Kashmir, but at that time the PDP rejected our offer and today. These are the people who are asking us for seats, why didn’t they take help from us against BJP at that time? At the time you insulted us. The record is a witness that you said that the National Conference is power hungry and they want to come to power through the back door.”
The NC Vice President said that in 2016, when Mufti Muhammad Sayed died and Mehbooba Mufti delayed in forming the government again, at that time it was said that the PDP would break up. “We went to the governor at that time. He said that do not give opportunities to those who break parties. The National Conference does not believe in any manipulation. Give Mehbooba Mufti as much time as she needs. We did not try to break the PDP by claiming to form the government at that time. If I had gone to Raj Bhavan and submitted a claim to form the government at that time, the PDP party would not have survived. Was it our selfishness? After that, in 2018, Mehbooba Mufti sent the same Altaf Bukhari to us. At that time too, the National Conference told the Governor through a written letter that we will unconditionally support PDP. Shall we announce our support to the PDP once again? We were doing all this to save Jammu and Kashmir from BJP’s conspiracies. In the end, what we feared and what we tried to explain to people during the 2014 election campaign happened. BJP came to power here and abolished Article 370 and 35A. Now it is up to the people here to decide which party showed selfishness and which party aided and abetted the BJP in undermining the special position of this historic state,” he said.

  BJP, Congress, Election

KR Desk