JAMMU, Aug 12: National Conference president Farooq Abdullah today said he will fight the upcoming Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir and hoped that the Election Commission will announce the poll dates by the end of this month.The former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, however, refused to divulge which constituency he would contest the elections from.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a party function in Doda district, Abdullah said, “He (his son Omar Abdullah) does not want to fight the elections under the present setup. He has made up his mind that he will not fight the elections till the restoration of Statehood (of Jammu and Kashmir). However, I am going to fight the elections as I am not dead.”Asked about the constituency he would fight from, he quipped, “Why should I tell you in advance? A General does not reveal his strategy and I am also a general and prepared to fight.”
Abdullah asserted that the NC would form the next Government in Jammu and Kashmir on its own and did not need support from anyone except Allah.
On the recent visit of the Election Commission to Jammu and Kashmir, he said reports suggest that the elections will be announced between August 21 and 25.
“We are prepared for the polls,” he added.
The NC chief said unemployment and inflation are the biggest problems facing not only Jammu and Kashmir but the entire country.
Asked about his statement that hell is awaiting Muslims affiliated with the BJP, even though the NC was a part of the NDA Government from 1998 to 2002, Abdullah said his party was among the 35 parties which were part of the Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led dispensation.
“We have not aligned with the BJP and have not brought them here. That was a separate thing,” he said.
Abdullah urged people to remain vigilant and ensure the victory of NC candidates in the upcoming Assembly elections.
Addressing a workers’ convention, he emphasised the importance of unity and perseverance.
“People need to remain vigilant and reject divisive elements,” he said.
“As the upcoming elections draw near, it is crucial to make wise decisions to combat sectarian forces and uphold the principles of democracy. Unity is our strength, and it is imperative to stand together against those who seek to divide us,” the NC chief said.
Earlier, Farooq today said the country is passing through a “bad phase” due to politics of polarisation and hatred, and advised Muslims not to be disheartened as “this phase is bound to end soon”.
The former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister said Muslims should be proud of being citizens of independent India.
The visit of the NC chief, who arrived in Kishtwar on Saturday, is aimed at engaging with the party’s grassroots workers and ensuring robust preparations for the upcoming Assembly elections.
The former Chief Minister further said the “forced” delimitation of constituencies in Jammu and Kashmir was done to create divisions among people.
“When I was the Chief Minister in 2000, I had passed an order to ensure that the delimitation takes place along with the rest of the country in 2026. I was not aware at that time that they would come and use the exercise to divide us,” he said.
Referring to the recent Parliamentary elections, Abdullah said the candidates faced a lot of hardships while campaigning in Anantnag-Rajouri Lok Sabha constituency which was carved out by the Delimitation Commission ignoring the geography as parts of the seat are divided by the mighty Pir Panjal range.
“Had they been sincere, they would have announced a separate Lok Sabha seat for Rajouri-Poonch and also the Chenab Valley,” he said.
Earlier, Abdullah paid obeisance at the famous shrine of Hazrat Shah Fareed-u-Din Wali and Hazrat Shah Asrar-u-Din in Kishtwar town before moving to the nearby Doda district.
He also attended a function at a private school in Kishtwar and addressed the students, underlining the need to remain vigilant against drug abuse.
