SRINAGAR: Peoples Conference President Sajad Gani Lone accuses the National Conference of victimising 99 percent of Kashmiris due to alleged dirty politics, prompting Omar Abdullah to hit back, alleging that the People’s Conference is begging for votes before Altaf Bukhari-led Apni Party ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.”
Lone said that he stands proud among the 99 Percent of Kashmiris who have borne the brunt of NC’s misrule rather than aligning with the one Percent who perpetrated atrocities. Lone made these remarks while addressing a mammoth gathering of dedicated workers in Nihalpora, Pattan which was organised by PC Senior General Secretary Imran Reza Ansari.
In his address to the assembled gathering, Lone asserted that the overwhelming majority, comprising 99 percent of Kashmiris, have been the victims of brutality, subjected to imprisonment, torture, unjust detentions under the PSA, and even extrajudicial executions at the hands of a powerful 1 percent minority of the National Conference.
While denouncing the NC’s decades-long reign of oppression, he said that, “They have contributed to creating martyrs’ graveyards in almost every village and town. They have been at the helm of regimes which killed thousands of innocent Kashmiris, implemented oppressive laws such as the POTA and PSA, along with the law for mandatory police verifications aimed at pushing the people to the wall. Yet, shamelessly, NC leaders are now seeking to portray this majority of Victims as agents of Delhi.”
Making a scathing critique of the National Conference’s tenure, Lone questioned their accountability for the hardships endured by the local populace, despite their historical dominance in North Kashmir, clinching victory in LS elections nine out of ten times.
“They must answer for their 50-year rule post-1975, characterized by developmental stagnation, oppression of Kashmiris, incarcerations and their shameful complicity during the abrogation of Article-370. If they can address these issues convincingly, we shall extend our sincerest apologies,” he declared.
Lone further lambasted Omar Abdullah’s attempts to portray himself as a paragon of virtue, recalling his tacit endorsement of human rights violations during his tenure under the Vajpayee government, amidst growing unrest in Kashmir.
“The same government expressed its desire to abolish Article 370, on record, if it had enough parliamentary support. It was the same dispensation that discarded the proposal for autonomy in JK but Omar still remained clung to power. You lack moral authority to label the majority of the local populace, given your lack of ideological disagreement with the BJP. It’s puzzling how you can even show your face here,” he remarked.
Lone also underscored the upcoming Lok Sabha elections as pivotal, following the watershed events of 2019. He earnestly implored the people to rally behind PC, amplifying their long-muted voices to the highest legislative echelons, the Parliament.
“I pledge to represent the people’s grievances and aspirations in the Parliament with unwavering courage and conviction,” he asserted.
Meanwhile, the former chief minister and vice-president National Conference Omar Abdullah hits out at the former, saying “Till yesterday I was a tourist, but today they are seeking support of others to defeat me”.
“Till yesterday I was being dubbed as a tourist, but today they beg before the Apni Party, seeking help to defeat me in north Kashmir. If they have courage to fight and if I’m not in a position to win elections there, then why do they beg for support from Altaf Bukhari. This indicates that land has started slipping under their feet,” Omar Abdullah told reporters on the sidelines of an election rally in south Kashmir’s Anantnag.
He said, “It is BJP’s strategy to put A, B and C teams in the field. BJP is doing frequent meetings in Srinagar. Recently Tarun Chugh visited here and held closed door meetings in which PC Chairman Sajad Gani Lone was part. Home Minister Amit Shah is targeting INDIA bloc and NC only. He didn’t speak a single word against these A, B and C teams”.
The former chief minister said that BJP and its proxies are trying to defeat us and are trying to change election results, but we are hopeful that people will cast their votes in favour of INDIA bloc and NC candidates and make our contest on all three seats in Kashmir valley a grand success.
On seat sharing tussle with PDP, the NC leader said “We are in the INDIA bloc not because of greed for seats, and PAGD was not formed for the same reason. Seats are being divided through a set formula agreed upon by every constituent. But unfortunately it couldn’t materialise at regional level”.
