SRINAGAR, Sep 23: Sheikh Abdul Rashid, Member of Parliament and leader of the Awami Ittehad Party (AIP), on Monday accused National Conference leader Omar Abdullah and People’s Conference chief Sajad Gani Lone of collaborating to undermine his party’s candidates in the ongoing Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections. Engineer Rashid, as he is commonly known, had previously defeated both Abdullah and Lone in the Baramulla constituency during the Lok Sabha elections earlier this year.
Speaking to reporters, Rashid stated, “Omar sahib recently labeled Sajad Lone and Altaf Bukhari’s Apni Party as extensions of the BJP, calling them its B teams. Yet, I possess undeniable proof that Omar Abdullah and Sajad Lone have joined forces to defeat my party in North Kashmir and other regions. Can Omar Abdullah now clarify who the real B team of the BJP is?”
Rashid further suggested that the National Conference’s silence on recent remarks made by BJP leader Tarun Chugh raised questions. Chugh had claimed that if BJP leaders revealed their secret meetings with National Conference officials, the careers of several prominent figures would be jeopardized. “Why hasn’t Omar Abdullah or any of his party members refuted Chugh’s statements? Their silence gives weight to my claims,” Rashid asserted.
He also criticized Abdullah for accepting support from the Apni Party, despite having previously criticized them. “Muntazir Mohiuddin of the Apni Party has publicly extended his support to Omar Abdullah in Budgam, even though Omar had called the Apni Party the BJP’s B team. How can he now accept their backing?” Rashid questioned.
Engineer Rashid went on to allege that all the major regional parties in Jammu and Kashmir had united with the sole objective of defeating his Awami Ittehad Party in the assembly elections. “It is clear that these parties have ganged up to bring down my party, but the people of Jammu and Kashmir will not be fooled by their political games,” he said.
The elections for the 90-member Jammu and Kashmir Assembly are currently taking place in three phases. Voting for the second and third phases is scheduled for Wednesday and October 1, respectively, with results set to be announced on October 8.