Jailed separatist leader’s brother files papers
Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, May 3: Former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah who is contesting polls from Baramulla Parliamentary constituency has zero immoveable assets while his main rival and People’s Conference chairman Sajad Gani Lone has immovable assets worth over Rs 19.00 crore.
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In his nomination affidavit, Abdullah revealed that he has no residential house, no agricultural land or any immovable assets registered in his, dependents or spouse name.
Abdullah’s movable assets have declined more than 16 percent from Rs 65.59 lakhs in last one decade to Rs 54.45 lakhs. His current annual income is over Rs 13 lakh.
The NC candidate disclosed his marital status as separated from his wife with divorce proceedings pending before the Supreme Court.
His source of income primarily stems from a pension as a former legislator and former Parliament member. He has no loans or liabilities from any bank.
Abdullah’s income was Rs 7,92,093 in 2019-20, Rs 11,73,030 in 2020-21, Rs 13,20,460 in 2021-22, Rs 19,39,620 in 2022-23 and Rs 13,20,460 in 2023-24.
On the other hand, Abdullah’s opponent, Lone has moveable assets including those of spouse and dependents worth over Rs 1.4 crore and moveable assets worth Rs 19.2 crore and has over Rs 7 crore liabilities. His total immoveable assets in 2014 were worth Rs 13.00 crore.
Lone’s income was Rs 37,86,840 in 2018-19, Rs 51,85,300 in 2019-20, Rs 35,95,470 in 2020-21, Rs 77,05,230 in 2021-22 and Rs 81,79,950 in 2022-23. His current annual income is around Rs 82 lakh while in 2014 his annual income was over Rs 11.00 lakh.
In the meantime, jailed separatist leader Nayeem Khan’s brother, Munir Khan, today filed his nomination papers from Baramulla Lok Sabha constituency taking the number of nominations filed from the constituency to 38.
Khan joined the Jammu Kashmir Nationalist People’s Front Party, launched two years ago, filed the nomination papers before Baramulla Deputy Commissioner Minga Sherpa, the Returning Officer of the constituency.
Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and National Conference vice president Omar Abdullah, People’s Conference president and separatist-turned-mainstream-politician Sajad Lone, former Rajya Sabha MP and PDP leader Mir Fayaz and former MLA Sheikh Abdul Rashid, alias Engineer Rashid, who is currently in jail, have also filed nominations for the seat.
The last date for filing nominations for the seat is May 3, while the polling is scheduled to take place on May 20.
Speaking to reporters after filing the nomination, Khan said if elected, he would focus on triple ‘Es’ – education, economy and employment.
Khan said there was a time when “our society” as a whole went in one direction, apparently referring to militancy and separatism.
“We all have made mistakes in the past. Our youths were especially involved in that, there are many FIRs against them, they have got the tag of being stone-pelters and ex-militants. It is not that a minuscule population is linked to that, there are lakhs of people associated with that,” he added.
“Unless we address that core issue, how can we talk about development or ‘Naya’ (new) Kashmir? How is progress possible without bringing such people, especially the youth, into the mainstream?” he asked.
Asked what difference he saw between separatist and mainstream politics, Khan said it is not about differences. “We have to rise above the levels of separatism, mainstream or A team, B team and C team and think about the nation. That was a time, but that time has gone now. Today, the situation in the world has changed, the situation in India, our country, has changed,” he said.
“The situation in Kashmir has changed, much water has flown down Jhelum, and we also have brought a change in ourselves so that we start an era of prosperity,” he added.
Replying to a question whether he would persuade his brother to join the mainstream once he is out of jail, Khan said that his brother’s ideology is his own.
Meanwhile, a total of 38 candidates have filed their nominations for Baramulla Parliamentary Constituency with 19 candidates submitting their papers on last day of nomination today at the office of the Returning Officer (RO), Minga Sherpa.
Those who filed their nomination papers today included Prince Parvez, Shafeeqa Begum, Bilal Ahmad Wani, Syed Ameer Suhail, Mohammad Sultan Ganaie, Shahdib Hanief Khan, Ghulam Nabi Parray, Ishfaq Ahmad Bhat, Dr. Manzoor Ahmad Bhat, Ashiq Hussain, Shabir Ahmad Malik, Mohammad Abdullah Khan, Haamid Hussain Bhat, Firdous Ahmad Bhat, Shabir Ahmad Dar and Arun Kumar Raina as Independent candidates besides Muneer Ahmad Khan from National People’s Front, Mehraj ud Din Ahanger from All J&K Kisan Mazdoor Party and Suraya Nissar from National Republic Party of India.
The scrutiny of the nomination papers will be held on May 4.
The candidate can withdraw their nomination before 3 pm on May 6.
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