Handwara, Sept 28: People’s Conference (PC) chairman Sajad Gani Lone said on Saturday that the fairness of the ongoing assembly elections will be evaluated in the Langate constituency (in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district), where he believes his candidate, Irfan Sultan, will emerge victorious.
Addressing a press conference here, Lone described the Langate seat as a crucial test for the administration in the upcoming elections. Despite alleged efforts to undermine his candidate, he expressed confidence in a win by “large numbers”.
“Langate will truly measure the administration’s impartiality. There are attempts to block my candidate, but these efforts will not succeed. My candidate will win by a large margin,” he asserted.
The PC chief raised concerns about possible interference in the elections, warning against a repeat of the controversial 1987 election. He urged the authorities to ensure a fair electoral process. “The entire establishment is focused on Langate. If there have been past mistakes, the administration must ensure they are not repeated,” he said.
Sajad also criticised Awami Ittehad Party (AIP) president Engineer Rashid, accusing him of having close ties with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He claimed that Rashid, a Member of Parliament for Baramulla, was released from custody for a “special mission” while others involved in the same case remain incarcerated.
“He was released for a purpose, while others are still suffering,” Lone alleged, accusing the authorities of favouring Rashid and cracking down on critics of the government, particularly on social media.
Lone said that neither the National Investigation Agency (NIA) nor any other agency contested Rashid’s bail, while witnesses in the same case, some of whom are seriously ill, have not been granted bail. “This raises suspicions about the situation,” he said.
Blaming the National Conference (NC) for the rigging of the 1987 elections, Sajad Lone remarked, “If the NC hadn’t rigged the elections, our graveyards wouldn’t be filled with young people today.”
In response to questions about his father Abdul Gani Lone’s legacy, the PC chief said his father always advocated for peace and never supported violence. He also defended his role in securing Engineer Rashid’s release in 2006, saying that he helped facilitate the process at that time.
