Assembly elections: Dr Farooq accuses BJP of fielding proxy candidates

Srinagar, Sep 21: National Conference (NC) president Dr Farooq Abdullah on Saturday launched a scathing attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), accusing them of fielding proxy candidates in the ongoing assembly elections in Jammu & Kashmir.
Speaking to the media persons on the sidelines of an election campaign in Srinagar’s Chattabal area, Dr Abdullah alleged that the BJP is funding and supporting these candidates in a bid to manipulate the electoral outcome.
The NC chief claimed that the BJP is resorting to such tactics because they know they cannot secure a victory in the region. “They knew they cannot win here, so they released these candidates. These are the same people who put them in jail, and now they are being released to break the hearts of the people. As many as these proxy candidates are fielded, they are being funded and supported by them,” he said.
Expressing concerns about the fairness of the elections, the former chief minister called on the Election Commission of India (ECI) to investigate reports of pressure being exerted on NC workers. “We want free elections, where there is full freedom to speak and cast votes. The ECI should see why there is pressure,” he said.
Addressing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s remarks that “three families looted Jammu and Kashmir,” Dr Farooq questioned why the BJP had formed an alliance with the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) if they believed the PDP was part of the alleged corruption. “If the PDP looted Kashmir, why did they form a government with them?” he asked.
Dr Abdullah also slammed the BJP for frequently bringing up Pakistan in its political discourse. “Whenever they (BJP) face anything, they just bring up Pakistan. They make mistakes themselves and then tell us that we are Pakistanis. They say that the alliance between Rahul Gandhi and Farooq Abdullah was formed with Pakistan’s support. What do we have to do with Pakistan? I believe they are themselves Pakistanis, and label us a threat,” he said.
Citing the recent encounters in the Jammu region, the NC president challenged the BJP’s claim that the abrogation of Article 370 would end militancy in the region. “They said Article 370 was responsible for militancy, but now that they are in power, has the militancy ended?” he questioned.
On the issue of the downgrading of Jammu & Kashmir from a state to a Union Territory, Dr Abdullah said it was done solely because of the region’s Muslim-majority population. “Have you ever heard of a state being made a Union Territory? I have seen Union Territories being converted to states. This happened because we are a Muslim-majority state, and I say that to their face. That is why they made it a Union Territory and divided this region,” he argued.