Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Sept 13: Former Chief Minister and National Confer ence vice president Omar Abdullah today accepted the challenge of Awami Ittehad Party (AIP) chief Abdul Rashid Sheikh alias Engineer Rashid, to accompany him to Delhi’s Tihar Jail.
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Omar made the remarks while speaking to reporters during a campaign rally in the Kulgam area of Anantnag district. He was responding to a question regarding Eng Rashid’s challenge, in which he claimed he would withdraw from the race if Omar Abdullah agreed to accompany him on his return to jail.
“Yesterday, Engg Rashid said that if I am ready to go back to Delhi with him, he would leave the field for us. Today, I say that the day he has to return, I will go with him and drop him there. Let him leave the field and stay at home,” Omar said.
Omar added that disappointment is widespread in Jammu and Kashmir, and the only solution is to defeat the BJP and those who support it. “Everywhere you look in J&K, people are disappointed. The only way to end this is by defeating the BJP and those who are aligning with them after October 8,” he emphasized.
The former CM reiterated that the alliance formed by his party is meant to defeat the BJP, while other political figures are, in some way, aiding the party. “We have presented ourselves to the people as a pre-poll alliance, committed to not forming a Government with the BJP. The others are out there to help the BJP in some way,” he said.
Omar urged voters to support the alliance candidates to protect J&K from BJP policies and to address the injustices of the last 8-10 years.
He also pointed out that the NC has consistently raised every issue affecting the people of J&K. “What issue have we not addressed? We have talked about Kashmir, Article 370, and improving relations between India and Pakistan. We have spoken on all the problems the people here face,” he said. He challenged his critics to name any issue his party has overlooked.
Commenting on the recent bail granted to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Omar alleged that voters in Baramulla were misled by claims that Engineer Rashid would be released if he won. “No one is released by votes; only the courts can release someone,” he added.
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