Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Mar 20: National Conference (NC) president and former Union Minister Farooq Abdullah and People’s Democratic Party candidate, Nazir Ahmad Khan, today filed their nomination papers for Srinagar Parliamentary constituency that goes to polls on April 9.
Abdullah, who was accompanied by NC working president Omar Abdullah, Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) president Ghulam Ahmad Mir and other senior NC and Congress leaders, today filed his nomination papers for the by polls at the office of Deputy Commissioner Srinagar.
PDP candidate Nazir Ahmad Khan accompanied by senior PDP leader and former Deputy Chief Minister, Muzaffar Hussian Beg and Minister for Sports, Imran Ansari, filed his nomination papers for the by polls at the office of Deputy Commissioner Srinagar this morning.
Srinagar Parliamentary seat fell vacant in September last year, after People’s Democratic Party (PDP) leader Tariq Hamid Karra resigned from the Lok Sabha and party membership. Karra, who defeated Dr Abdullah in 2014 general Lok Sabha polls, later joined the Congress after resigning from PDP.
While speaking to reporters after filing nominations, Abdullah said that Congress support is needed for saving the State and the country. “Your (Congress) support is needed for this fight. Not just for the State of Jammu and Kashmir, but for the whole country. We have to save this country. This country belongs to all of us and not just people from a single religion. Till this country belongs to all, we will be with it. God forbid, if it does not remain so, then God knows what storm will come”, he said.
The NC leader said that their alliance with Congress is not for elections but is the alliance of hearts. “Whether I live or not, the young leadership has to save not only Jammu and Kashmir, but the whole of India and Pakistan. Jammu and Kashmir cannot be saved untill there is friendship between India and Pakistan and for that they have to work together. This alliance is not only for this (elections) but it has to be (an alliance) of the hearts”, he added.
Abdullah said that by entering the Parliament he and Mir will try to awaken the conscience of the ruling party. “You have to make both of us successful so that when we enter the Parliament, we will try to awaken their conscience. We will tell them that the grave which you are digging for us, you might fell into that yourselves. You should pray that God make our path easy and bring back the prosperity in the State. We want to get rid of the violence, we have seen enough of bloodshed. Other states are reaching the sky, but our State has been sinked in. Today our Chief Minister has to beg”, he added.
Farooq assured the Congress party of complete support in Anantnag constituency where Congress president G A Mir is pitted against Tasaduq Mufti.
Speaking to reporters on the occasion, Muzafar Beg said: “He is a youth but he has been working since long in politics. Last time in Beerwah he contested Assembly elections against Omar Abdullah. He was unsuccessful due to difference of few hundred votes. We gave chance to a youth because future belongs to youth. And for representing youth of State, a youth (Nazir Khan) has been chosen. We have given him a chance to represent people of State, particularly the aspirations and interests of the people of his constituency”, he said.
The PDP candidate Nazir Khan after filing nomination papers said that Farooq is a discredited politician. “You have seen in Beerwah, I got 23000 votes on Congress ticket against Omar. All national channels had flashed that Nazir Khan had won but just after 10 minutes, a surprising announcement came that Omar had won. I am a hardworking political worker. I am thankful to PDP for giving me mandate”, he said.
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