Postponing Anantnag-Rajouri elections ‘conspiracy’ against Gujjars & Bakarwals: Omar

Anantnag, May 01: Former Chief Minister and National Conference Vice President, Omar Abdullah on Wednesday said that postponing the elections in the Anantnag-Rajouri constituency is a “well-planned conspiracy” to see the Gujjar and Bakarwal communities migrate, preventing their votes from aligning with the NC.
“Even if you postpone it today, these ‘Khanabodosh’ and others will still stand with the NC, and we will continue to represent the people’s voice,” Omar said while addressing a gathering in the Dooru area of south Kashmir’s Anantnag district. He also spoke at the joint rally of the INDIA bloc partner Congress at Nadura, Dooru which was organised by All India Congress Committee (AICC) General Secretary, Ghulam Ahmad Mir.
Omar in his address termed the Election Commission of India’s decision as “completely wrong”. “I would have accepted it if there had been any issue for a voter to cast their vote, and I would have also accepted it if the area had been completely cut off, making the election impossible,” he said.
“The area isn’t cut off and remains connected. If the Mughal road isn’t open, then the Jammu – Reasi route was available after the elections were postponed. Dr Farooq Abdullah and Mian Altaf Ahmad reached Rajouri today and are conducting their campaign work. If they could reach there, other candidates could have as well,” he added.
The former CM said, “Look at where the demand originated from. It came from the BJP, which demanded the deferment of the elections despite not having any candidate in the fray. Similarly, the People’s Conference, which lacks any candidate in the fray, made the same demand. As I mentioned in my speech, it is a well-planned conspiracy to deprive a particular large and important community of their vote.”
Responding to a question about holding a joint gathering with Congress and the public’s response, Omar said the atmosphere is quite positive. “It is not our first joint event. In the past, we have also conducted mega shows jointly with Congress. We held four other mega shows in the Chenab Valley. Before that, Dr Farooq Abdullah himself held one in Jammu when Raman Bhalla filed his nominations, as well as in Kathua and other places. Our joint events will persist until the polls and hopefully beyond,” he added.
In response to the viral video of a BJP member threatening voters in Rajouri, he remarked that the Saffron party has a “habit of intimidation” and they won’t refrain from these tactics. He expressed hope for justice from the ECI. “But considering the way they (ECI) attempted to benefit the BJP by postponing the elections, relying on them for justice might be our mistake,” Abdullah said.
He said the National Conference is in a leading position in the Anantnag-Rajouri parliamentary seat while responding to a question about their standing in the constituency.