Srinagar, Sept 26: Former Jammu & Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday said he was expecting a good turnout in Srinagar, citing there was no boycott call, no attacks and no intimidation of voters. He blamed the Centre for what he termed as low turnout in the city that went to polls on Wednesday in the second phase of the ongoing assembly elections.
Speaking to media persons in Uri in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district while campaigning for the party candidate, Omar said, “I was expecting higher turnout because there was no boycott call, attacks or threats or intimidation of the voters. I feel the Centre is somehow responsible for this. They tried to present the high voter turnout as a sign of normalcy and as if the people had accepted the revocation of (Article) 370,” he said.
Maybe this was a reaction from Srinagar because the people of Srinagar did not want to send “wrong signals”, he added.
Abdullah said the central government “committed yet another mistake” by inviting foreign diplomats to Kashmir to witness the election process, just to show them that Srinagar is witnessing the change.
“They brought foreign diplomats to showcase supposed changes in Srinagar, but the people of Srinagar did not want to be used in this manner,” he said.
About the third phase of polls being held on October 01 in three border districts of Baramulla, Kupwara and Bandipora in Kashmir, the NC vice president said these areas have always enthusiastically participated in elections. “We are hopeful for a high turnout,” he said.
“Though I hope for strong support for the National Conference; however, in areas where that may not be possible, I trust voters will lend their support to Congress,” he said.
Speaking about voter turnout, the former CM said he is grateful to everyone who voted, whether for the National Conference, NOTA or other parties. I thank them for participating in the election, he said.
Omar reiterated that there is “no difference” between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the independent candidates. “People should understand this drama and vote for alliance candidates in the final and last phase of assembly elections on October 01,” he said.
Addressing party workers in Uri town, the NC leader said the BJP was willing to ally themselves with other parties as well as independent candidates to form government.
On September 25, Srinagar district voter turnout reached 29.81 percent, while Ganderbal and Budgam districts recorded 62.51 and 62.98 percent respectively.
These figures indicate a slight increase in Srinagar’s turnout compared to the 2014 Assembly elections. However, both Ganderbal and Budgam witnessed a significant decline. In the 2014 elections, Srinagar’s eight constituencies averaged a turnout of 27.77 percent, whereas Ganderbal and Budgam saw 73.11 and 67.21 percent polling, respectively.
‘BJP on divide-&-rule strategy in Kashmir, supporting independent candidates’
National Conference (NC) vice president Omar Abdullah on Thursday claimed that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is supporting independent candidates in Kashmir to divide the Pahari and Gujjar communities.
“No one can seize Pahari reservation. In fact, the National Conference first recommended the Pahari ST reservation in the 1980s. The BJP-backed people will only spread propaganda just to divide people on Pahari, Gujjar, Kashmiri, Shia, Sunni castes,” Omar said while addressing a public rally in Uri.
He accused the BJP of trying to divide communities and said that this is why they are not contesting on some seats and are supporting independent candidates.
The NC leader also slammed the BJP’s handling of Muslims in India, saying that they are feeling fear and harassment under the current government. “In the present scenario, Muslims of the country feel fear and harassment. They are not feeling safe so let Kashmiris give a clear message this time to the PM,” he said.
The former J&K chief minister claimed that Delhi wants to silence the NC by backing independent candidates. “That is why these all A B C teams speak only against NC. No one among these independent candidates spoke against the BJP. You can imagine the agenda of these independent candidates,” he said.
He also warned that those who had a deal with the BJP will not fulfill the people’s demands. “If you need evidence, look at their statements as they speak only against NC. That is why the BJP and Apni Party support Taj Mohiuddin in Uri,” he said.
NC Member of Parliament Agha Syed Ruhullah Mehdi in his address called on people to give a reply to PM Modi by casting their vote this time. “We have to tell them what you are doing with Kashmiris is not acceptable to us. Resolve the Kashmir issue and give all our rights back to us, otherwise, the situation of J&K will not improve. Don’t take the silence of Kashmiris easily and sometimes silence also expresses anger,” he said.
Former cabinet Minister Mohammad Shafi Uri described a climate of disempowerment, economic distress, and alienation among Kashmiris. He also raised concern about the troubling picture of demographic changes and loss of local economic opportunities.
Omar expressed confidence that the National Conference will form the new government in J&K on October 08. “Sajad Shafi Uri will be part of the ministry,” he announced.
