Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, Apr 17: National Conference (NC) president and its candidate for Srinagar Parliamentary Constituency, Dr Farooq Abdullah, today blamed Army for facilitating People’s Democratic Party (PDP)’s victory in 2002 Assembly elections and said that Army even asked his Minister to vote for PDP.
“When he (Mufti) came in 2002, who facilitated his win? It is BJP that facilitated his win. BJP used Army for him”, Abdullah said in his address during a rally at Sumbal in North Kashmir district of Bandipora today.
The NC leader said that Army asked one of his Ministers to vote for the PDP in 2002 Assembly elections. “If Rather would have been here, he would have told you that when he went to his village to cast his vote. He was asked to vote for Pen and Inkpot (PDP) by the Army. They didn’t know that he was a Minister”, he added.
Abdullah said that Army used coercion to stop people from voting in Doda area of Jammu in 2002. “I went to Doda in helicopter and saw not body was at the Polling Station. I left the helicopter there and climbed a mountain and reached a village. One shop was open there and I asked the shopkeeper why didn’t people come out for voting. He told me that they were told by Army not to cast vote and they (Army) threatened them to break their legs”, he added.
When asked about his accusation of PDP carrying out militant attacks on NC workers, Abdullah said: “I wish I had an authority and the power and I have these people (militants) behind me, I would have carried out hundred attacks on them (PDP) but I don’t have that power, I don’t have these militants.”
The NC leader said that the PDP deserves to be taught a lesson. “They are worth it and they deserve to be taught a lesson. But I don’t have bombs and guns. My resources are people who will defeat the PDP in elections”, he added.
The NC president said that PDP’s open tactical alliance with Modi-led BJP is a stab in the back for the people of this State and they will never forgive Mufti Sayeed and Mehbooba Mufti for becoming the political agents of Modi in Kashmir.
“They (BJP) have one aim that our flag should go, we should amalgamate with them (India). Listen, so long as this flag is flying, no one can harm you. For this flag and plough people have given sacrifices”, Abdullah said.
“I ask Mufti and those who are with him that when Modi will put us in a grinding mill what will he do. If there is someone who can save us, it is only God and one one else. We have no guns , no bombs, we have left it to God. God is with us and he will sail us through”, the NC leader told the rally.
Abdullah said that Article 370 is the constitutional bridge between State and Indian Union and abrogation of it would lead to opening of doors of accession which will be too difficult for them (BJP) to close. “It is life and death for the people of the State”, he said.
“No power on earth can revoke Article 370 until the last NC worker is alive. We will not allow Mufti to re-invent the Mukherjee Doctrine to please Narendra Modi. We have safeguarded Article 370 for decades and will continue to protect it with our lives in the future as well”, the NC president said.
Abdullah said that PDP’s sole political purpose is to dilute the voice of the people and barter their interests for the temptations of personal power. “Mufti Sayeed inflicted the most grievous wounds on the minds and hearts of the people of Kashmir through his infamous phase of barbaric repression in partnership with Jagmohan”, he added.
The NC president asked people to pray that India and Pakistan hold talks and resolves Kashmir so that “we come out of this mess”. “Unless and until India and Pakistan holds talks there can be no peace here”, he added.
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