Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Aug 29: National Conference Vice President Omar Abdullah today said that he has never taken the election lightly and hopes the people of Ganderbal will elect him again.
Speaking to reporters here at Ganderbal, Omar said that they are standing against the Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) with a united front and there was a need to have an alliance for Pir Panjal areas to keep BJP out.
On accusations that he has sacrificed his principles for power, Omar said that the people who are making such accusations are his own relatives. “If they were bound by their own principles, then they should have stayed out of this as well”, he added.
The NC leader said that while he believes the UT assembly lacks the strength it should have, “we only can strengthen it through this assembly.”
Responding to a question that the Chief Minister cannot even transfer a peon, he said: “I will not go into that. But today, we are not electing a Chief Minister. We want to make him an MLA first, and then we will decide who will be the Chief Minister after October 4.”
Regarding concerns raised by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) that Er Rashid could influence witnesses and tamper with evidence, Omar said: “A voter does not decide on a bail. Bail is decided in court.”
“Any news from Delhi cannot remain secret for a long time. So, according to my knowledge, the court is not going to listen to the NIA,” Omar said, adding that let’s wait till September 04 and it will have to be seen whether there will be any conditions from the court while granting bail to Er Rashid.
“The decision of granting bail is not taken by the people by casting votes, it has to be taken by the court itself. The ED was also reluctant to revoke the case against Dr Farooq Abdullah, but the court had given its verdict and it was followed,” Omar added.
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