‘Strengthen NC to keep BJP away’
Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Sept 5: Former Chief Minister and president of the National Conference, Dr Farooq Abdullah today asked people to register their vote and urged them to ensure that they vote in the next elections.
While addressing his party workers in Shopian district of South Kashmir, Abdullah asked the party workers to register their vote.
“Those who have not registered their votes so far should register themselves. Registering your vote under the appropriate name is currently the most crucial step. You would not be able to cast a vote at the voting booth if the names you provide are not exactly the same as those on your Adhaar card,” he said.
He asked people not to abstain from voting as it will benefit a particular party.
“Some people encourage you to abstain from voting so that their party would win, but we will have to wait and see how they get control of this place,” he said.
“They promised that nothing would occur here, but everything was taken from us on August 5,” he said.
“Similarly, we were informed that Mirwaiz Umar Farooq was free and that they had just retained security near his home for his safety, but he was not subsequently permitted to lead Friday prayers,” Abdullah said.
He asked his workers to strengthen the party so as to keep BJP away.
Allowing non-locals to vote in J&K will be disastrous, said Dr Farooq, adding that the powers that are pitted against NC are so insecure about support from genuine voters of Jammu and Kashmir that it has to import temporary voters to win seats.
“None of these things will help them when the people of J&K are given a chance to exercise their franchise. It is for the permanent residents of Jammu and Kashmir not to allow them succeed in their nefarious designs. It is for you to stop them from achieving that end. No one else can. If people come out and register as voters and subsequently vote in huge numbers, there is nothing that can touch our unique identity. But if all of us chose to stay in our homes, there is nothing that can save us. Therefore, this time the elections are not just about having elected Governments, forming Ministries. It is all about protecting our identity and dignity. We have to send such representatives to the legislature, who would not trade-off people’s dignity, and honour,” he said.
He added that there is no substitute to NC, when it comes to protecting regional pride and dignity of Jammu and Kashmir. He said the party has long been seen as a tell-tale symbol of the region’s political and developmental aspirations.
“Our people, whether they are Kashmiris, Dogras, Gujjars and Paharis, remain deeply attached to their sense of history and to their identity. People’s immense faith in our party is a reckoner of profound disillusionment of people with the policies of ruling dispensation. The best way to resist such forces is through a democratic process,” he added.
Farooq was accompanied by party’s vice president Omar Abdullah, additional general secretary Dr Sheikh Mustafa Kamal, provincial president Nasir Aslam Wani and MP Hasnain Masoodi. The convention was convened and organised by District president Shopian Showkat Ahmed Ganaie. Among others South Zone President Dr Bashir Veeri, State Spokesperson Imran Nabi Dar, Syed Tauqeer Ahmed, District Presidents Ghulam Mohi Ud din Mir, Abdul Majeed Bhat Larmi, Senior leaders Peer Mohammad Hussain, Sheikh Muhammad Rafi, Mohammad Khalil Bandh, Shabir Ahmed Kullay, Adv Reyaz Ahmed Khan, Peerzada Feroze were also present on the occasion.
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