* Govt snatching security of leaders: Omar
Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, Mar 14: National Conference and Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) have decided for pre-poll alliance in Anantnag and Srinagar Parliamentary constituencies’ by-polls to be held next month.
Sources said that the NC president Dr Farooq Abdullah will contest from Srinagar while Congress State president G A Mir will contest from Anantnag Lok Sabha seat.
A senior PDP leader said that party has decided to field brother of Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti,Tasaduq Mufti, from Anantnag and Nazir Ahmad Khan from Srinagar. Khan, who was a senior Congress leader had joined PDP recently.
A statement issued by PDP said that Political Affairs Committee ( PAC) of J&K People’s Democratic Party (JKPDP) has cleared the candidature of Mufti Tasaduq Hussain and Nazir Ahmad Khan for the by-elections to two Parliamentary constituencies.
“Mufti Tasaduq Hussain will contest his maiden election from Anantnag- Pulwama Parliamentary segment while as Nazir Ahmad Khan will be the candidate for Srinagar- Budgam Parliamentary segment”, the statement said.
“The names of two candidates were cleared at the extra-ordinary meeting of the Political Affairs Committee (PAC) which was chaired by party president Mehbooba Mufti. All permanent members and special invitees unanimously cleared the candidature of two party leaders”, the statement added.
The statement further said that the PAC also discussed the present political scenario obtaining in the State and exuded confidence that electorate will take keen interest in the upcoming polls to further strengthen the democratic institutions and political process in the State.
The NC and Congress decided the pre-poll alliance today in a meeting of the two parties’ leaders held at the residence of provincial president Nasir Aslam Wani.
Mir said that the two parties decided to contest polls together on seat sharing arrangement. He said that senior leaders of NC including its general secretary Ali Mohammad Sagar, former Ministers Choudhary Mohammad Ramzan, Sakina Itoo, and provincial president Nasir Aslam Wani and senior leaders of Congress including JKPCC chief G A Mir, former Minister Taj Mohi-ud-Din, MLA Sopore Haji Abdul Rashid and MLA Devsar Amin Bhat attended the meeting in which pre-poll alliance on seat sharing basis was decided. The two parties are likely to announce the decision formally in a press conference tomorrow noon.
Sources said that the NC top leadership and Congress high command in New Delhi had already decided about the pre-poll alliance for Srinagar and Anantnag Parliamentary by-polls.
Earlier NC Core Group held its meeting at the residence of Dr Farooq Abdullah to formulate the poll strategy and to decide about pre-poll alliance with Congress.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said that the Core Group of the NC has discussion on the elections and authorized Dr Farooq Abdullah to take a final call including pre-poll alliance with Congress.
“We continuously from past one-two-days (have been meeting) to assess the situation and secondly we discussed in detail the party preparations and how to fought these by-elections for Anantnag and Srinagar Parliamentary constituencies that were announced by Election Commission.
The Core Group has now left the decision on party president Dr Farooq Abdullah and he has been informed about whole situation. Now we will see when Farooq decides, we will announce before you”, Omar said.
Omar refused to talk on the issue of alliance with Congress. “As of now there is no such thing. We cannot talk over this. As I told you that we in detail have spoken to our colleagues over these elections. Indeed, every option has been debated and we have analyzed every issue’s pros and cons. Let’s see now, we will announce the Farooq’s decision”, he added.
“As far as we talk about the current situation, we are seeing that the security of our associates – instead of being increased – is being decreased. Now the question here had arisen that Sarpanchs are not being given security”, he said.
The NC leader accused Government of snatching the security of former legislators and Ministers. “I am saying to you that security of my former legislators and former Ministers is being snatched. When former Ministers today would like to go in their areas, they are given security after repeated requests. In this situation when Election Commission expects us to fight elections, it should ensure that the atmosphere is conducive for elections and besides the Election Commission should also ensure that one who wants to take part in the elections as candidate or campaigner should be provided full security”, he said.
Omar said instead of threatening people who are disrupting the security operations, they should be made to understand against it. “The Government should deal with this situation. From past two years, these kinds of reports are constantly coming that youth and natives of those areas are going to disrupt the encounters…there should be some way to make them understand. Threatening them has not succeeded. Army chief said they will be treated as anti-nationals. He had perhaps hoped that people after listening to this will prefer to sit in their houses. But even after his threat, perhaps people in large numbers (than earlier) came out of their houses. This issue won’t get resolved by giving threats. The current Government should try to understand the sentiments of the people and should try to pull these people towards it; you should ask government about what steps can be taken in this regard”, he said.
The NC leader hoped that the opposition will increase connectivity with the people and give tough contest to BJP in 2019 polls. “I had not said that (we should think about 2024 elections). I had said that if same situation prevails, I mean the defeat which we faced in these elections, if we didn’t learn from this defeat; then undoubtedly we should think about 2024 elections instead of 2019. But I am hopeful that after the results of these elections we will change the way of our working and we will increase the connectivity with the people and shall hope that in 2019 we will present a tough contest before BJP”, he said.
Omar said keeping in view the recently concluded elections, the BJP will be a tough contestant. “If same situation prevails then it is obvious that where you (BJP) sweep (polls) in UP, you with the help of “jodh todh” formed Government in two States despite coming on number two then after keeping in view these things we conclude that 2019 will be a tough contest. If Modi’s wave succeeded in UP then why not in Delhi or Bihar. We only count our successes and blame someone else for our defeats. If BJP people credit Modi for UP win then they should also give explanation about Bihar or Delhi. 2019 is very difficult test for us and we should prepare ourselves onwards and that is why what I said in my tweet…some people disliked it but I wont stop speaking”, he said.
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