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Former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir Omar Abdullah took a veiled dig at PDP Chief Mehbooba Mufti over its alliance with the BJP in 2015.
He also accused the BJP of "spreading hatred" against the Muslims to "create enmity" and "tension" (between different communities). "I have seen people joining the BJP after seeking votes against them. We have seen people who secretly conspired to bring the BJP into the valley. They are openly saying that they are with the BJP," Omar said, his jibe appearing to be at PDP Chief Mehbooba Mufti. BJP and PDP stitched an alliance in 2015 to form a government in the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir. Later, the BJP walked out of the alliance. Omar addressed an election rally at Batwara public park in Srinagar seeking votes for the NC candidate Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi. "That BJP, which has no place for the Muslims and is working to spread hatred against this community," he said. "Elections will end on June 3. And how will the country run for the next five years? By spreading hatred. Sometimes they talk about mangalsutra, Zameen (earth). Their aim is to create tension and enmity (between different communties). He also lashed out at the Centre over its claims of development in the Union Territory. "They are claiming that people have seen development with the abrogation of article 370. Why do you rub salt to our wounds?" He also referred to a recent accident in which school children lost their lives. "This place has recently witnessed the death of innocent school children in an accident. Some bodies have not been recovered. And Why? Because that bridge was not made for them which was sanctioned when our government was in power. What will you talk about? About industries. About Investment. Railways. Airports. You only talk about this bridge," he said, taking a dig at the BJP. Omar Abdullah is contesting from the Baramulla Lok Sabha seat. In 2019, polling for the Lok Sabha was held for six seats in Jammu and Kashmir. However, following the abrogation of Article 370, which resulted in the split of the erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir state into two Union Territories -- Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, there is no longer a separate Lok Sabha constituency for Ladakh. In the 2019 elections, the BJP won three seats, while the National Conference won the remaining three. The PDP and NC, despite being allies in the opposition alliance INDIA bloc, have decided to go solo in the Lok Sabha elections in Jammu and Kashmir. The general elections are being held in seven phases in a six-week marathon running from April 19 to June 1. The first phase of polling was held on April 19 and the second phase on April 26.The next round of voting will be held on May 7. The counting of votes and results will be declared on June 4. (ANI)
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