Omar accuses BJP of targeting him with jailed candidates in elections

'New Delhi going to extreme lengths to silence my voice'

SRINAGAR: Vice President of the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (NC), Omar Abdullah today accused the ruling BJP in New Delhi of attempting to undermine his political campaign by fielding jailed separatist candidates against him in the upcoming Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly elections.
Speaking at a workers' gathering in Ganderbal, Omar expressed deep concerns over what he perceives as a "deliberate conspiracy" by the BJP to silence his voice.
During his address, Abdullah reflected on his defeat in the Baramulla Lok Sabha elections, where he lost to Sheikh Abdul Rashid, a jailed candidate who campaigned through an emotional audio message recorded from prison. "I always suspected Delhi would try to silence me, but I never imagined they would go to such lengths," he stated, hinting at a broader strategy employed against him.
Omar voiced his surprise at the candidacy of Sarjan Ahmad Wagay, also known as Barkati, a jailed separatist from Shopian who filed nomination papers to contest against him in Ganderbal. "When I decided to contest from Ganderbal, I heard rumors that a jailed candidate would be fielded against me. This made me question whether it was a coincidence or part of a larger plan," he remarked.
He raised suspicions about why a candidate from another district, Zainapora-Shopian, was being fielded in Ganderbal when no local jailed candidates were available. "This clearly indicates a deliberate effort to disrupt my campaign," Abdullah added, stressing that the BJP's larger agenda was to suppress his voice and influence in Jammu and Kashmir.
Abdullah also revealed how his team had secretly collected nomination papers from various constituencies to avoid interference.
He shared that on the last day for filing nominations, Barkati not only filed from Ganderbal but also took papers from Beerwah, anticipating that Omar would contest from there as he had done previously. "When we filed from Budgam, they were caught off guard," he said, calling this incident further evidence of a conspiracy.
Omar Abdullah made it clear that the BJP was particularly targeting him because of his role in speaking out for the people of Jammu and Kashmir. "When I fight against Delhi, it’s not just for me, but for the dignity and rights of my people," he said, adding that the BJP is determined to stifle any dissenting voices, especially his.
Reflecting on the upcoming elections, Abdullah underscored their importance. These will be the first assembly elections held after the abrogation of Article 370 on August 5, 2019, which stripped Jammu and Kashmir of its special status. He described the elections as a pivotal moment, stating, "This is a fight for our identity, dignity, and future."
Omar urged the people of Ganderbal to vote wisely and resist any attempts to manipulate the election process, vowing that he would continue to stand up for their rights.