Kulgam, Mar 18: Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (JKNC) Vice President Omar Abdullah on Monday said that the People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) is intact and may organise a meeting in a couple of days.
“Though we run our own parties, PAGD stands as it has been. Even the alliance may have a meeting in a day or two; you will get to know,” Omar said while addressing media persons at Damhal Hanjipora in south Kashmir’s Kulgam district.
He was there to attend a gathering organised in memory of the late JKNC leader & former Speaker of the J&K Assembly, Wali Mohammad Itoo on his 30th death anniversary. The late leader was the father of the party’s Noorabad Incharge Sakina Itoo.
On the occasion, Omar said the party will announce the parliamentary candidate at an appropriate time and that the candidate will start his work. “The party has started campaigning from Monday itself,” Omar said.
The NC leader said they wanted simultaneous Lok Sabha and assembly elections in J&K but it didn’t happen. “The current government in the Union Territory sabotaged it because they don’t want to see the power back to the people here,” he said, adding, “We are thankful to Allah that the Supreme Court ordered them to hold elections in J&K before September 30.”
The former chief minister said the Election Commission too has said that they will hold elections before the time set and that people will get their own government.
Abdullah also targeted the Bharatiya Janata Party saying, “They (BJP) have an old habit of targeting minorities, especially around elections. The Citizen Amendment Act (CAA) is a step towards that, which isn’t just about Muslims but also about other minorities. This targeting is BJP’s old habit and they will never think otherwise.”
Responding to the question about EVMs, Omar said, “Even if I question EVMs, they will still be used. ECI isn’t ready to hold elections on the paper ballot. Now our polling agent and counting agents will have to prepare and keep these machines safe and ensure no tampering could happen.”
Meanwhile, according to a party statement, the former CM said, “BJP is under the misconception that it will win seats here by dividing the people. That is why as per the Dixon Plan, as part of a conspiracy, demarcation of parliamentary seats was done, Rajouri Poonch was cut off from Jammu and merged with south Kashmir. These people are following the British method of divide and rule, trying to make Kashmiris fight Jammu, Hindus fight Muslims, Paharis fight Gujjars and so on.”
He added, “BJP and its A team, B team and C team are suffering from another misconception that people will not vote in south Kashmir. I appeal to the people of south Kashmir to come out of their homes in droves on the day of polling and dispel this misunderstanding of the BJP.”
Along with Omar Abdullah, the party’s General Secretary Ali Muhammad Sagar; Provincial President Nasir Aslam Wani; Senior Leaders Mian Altaf Ahmed; Justice (Retd) Hasnain Masoudi; Political Advisor Mudassar Shahmiri; State Spokesperson Imran Nabi Dar and others were also present on this occasion.
