Srinagar, May 22: National Conference Vice President Omar Abdullah on Wednesday asked the voters in the Anantnag-Rajori seat to vote in NC’s favor to safeguard their ‘deen’ and foil the attacks on Islam.
Speaking during an election rally in the Anantnag-Rajori seat, Omar said: “Agar hamare deen aur mazhab ke khilaf jis tarah roz hamle ho rahe hain, agar humne is ko rokna hai to rokne ka ek hi tareeqa hai ke humne apne qeemti vote ka istemal kar ke teesre number button ko daba ke Mian Altaf sahab ko yahan se kamiyab karna hai. (If we want to stop the daily attacks against our religion and faith, there is only one way to stop it: we must use our valuable votes and press the third number button [on EVM] to ensure Mian Altaf Sahib’s success from here.)”
Omar also targeted Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) President Mehbooba Mufti, who is herself contesting from the seat, accusing her of making farcical statements. Omar questioned Mehbooba’s stance in claiming that NC candidate Mian Altaf doesn’t belong to Anantnag-Rajori and has no right to contest from the seat. “But Mehbooba Ji, tell me, when 15 years ago I was contesting from Srinagar, how come you fought elections against me from there when you claim to belong to Anantnag? If your contesting from Srinagar was not wrong, how come Mian Altaf’s candidature is unacceptable to you? This is because you are fearing defeat from the NC candidate here,” Omar said.
He added that Home Minister Amit Shah’s visit to Srinagar was meticulously planned and designed to benefit a particular political group. “This is the reason why polls were delayed in the Anantnag-Rajori seat. Because earlier the Home Minister had no time to visit Jammu and Kashmir. Now everything is becoming crystal clear,” Omar said—(KNO)
