Anantnag, Apr 17: Former Chief Minister and Vice President of the National Conference (NC), Omar Abdullah on Wednesday accused the Apni Party and People’s Conference (PC) of contesting elections as substitutes for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Kashmir, citing the alleged meeting between senior BJP leader Tarun Chugh and these parties.
He made these remarks while addressing the media at the party’s election campaign program for their Parliamentary Candidate Mian Altaf Ahmad in Larnoo Kokernag in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district.
Omar said that Home Minister Amit Shah hinted at their intention of not fielding candidates for the Parliamentary elections in Kashmir. “During his Jammu program, the Home Minister said that the BJP is not in a rush to expand the lotus in Kashmir,” Omar said, adding, “However, in 2019, the BJP contested all the seats and lost. This time, they won’t field candidates here and are instead extending their support to other parties.”
He pointed out the difference, and said, “We are openly contesting in alliance with the INDIA bloc, while the BJP is covertly supporting other parties and failing at it.”
The NC leader said that a few days ago, Tarun Chugh was in Srinagar and visited Altaf Bukhari’s home, where Sajad Lone was also called. This indicates that the Apni Party and People’s Conference will be substituted for the BJP.
“It’s their plan, and people have understood it. The parties contesting instead of the BJP will find it not only difficult but impossible, to win elections,” he said.
Regarding the competition with Sajad Lone in north Kashmir, Omar said, “Every candidate is a strong contender. Let the votes come, and then we’ll see how strong of a contender he is. And whatever answer we have for Sajad Lone will be given in the north, not on the soil of Anantnag,” he said while responding to a question about Lone’s allegation that NC is responsible for the destruction in J&K.
Omar further said that BJP couldn’t win the hearts of the people here, nor will they win the elections. That’s why they aren’t fielding candidates. “If there is a better candidate for the Anantnag-Rajouri seat, it’s Mian Altaf Sahab. And NC’s candidate is the sole candidate capable of effectively advocating for the people on both sides of the mountains, especially now that Rajouri and Poonch have been added to the Anantnag seat for the first time,” he added.
Responding to being called a ‘tourist’ by Ghulam Nabi Azad, Omar said, “How many answers can I provide to the statements of a frustrated man? He has withdrawn from elections, and they don’t have a candidate for any other seat. He should seek a cure for his frustration disease in Delhi, where he resides.”
