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Sajad BJP's stooge, out to sell JK's culture: Omar | Ahead of 2nd phase north Kashmir polarized | | Most members of Abdullah family have married non-Muslims, Lone hits back
Early Times Report
Srinagar, Nov 30: The campaign for the second phase of Assembly elections ended today with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Peoples Conference Chairman Sajad Gani Lone launching scathing attacks at each other. Omar who addressed an election gathering in north Kashmir's Handwara area, from where separatist turned mainstream politician Sajad Lone is contesting his maiden assembly elections, called Sajad the "stooge of BJP" and alleged that Saffron party had purchased him. Omar said, "We stand at threshold of a litmus test where everything we have stood for and rendered sacrifices for is being threatened not only by BJP but also its local stooges who have abandoned the slogan of Azadi only to support BJP's aims to do away with the Muslim Personal Law, to abrogate Article 370 and to inflict irreparable damage on our State Subject Law which protects our State's demographic and cultural character." Reacting to the charges leveled by Omar, Sajad hit back saying, "When he (Omar) was Minister in Vajpayee government was BJP a secular and good party then and it has turned bad now? Omar shouldn't have spoken against BJP and RSS as till yesterday he was sitting in their lap for power. It was National Conference who with the help of Congress always damaged the special status of Jammu and Kashmir." Sajad alleged: "Omar's family has no religion and faith. Most members of Abdullah family have married in non-Muslim families and by that logic they are neither Muslims and nor have any faith." He said, "I am not like Omar who can sell his faith and religion for power." Sajad claimed that Omar Abdullah couldn't decide for six months where form he should contest polls as he feared defeat. Omar playing a communal card to polarize the environment just two days before the elections and Sajad launching a personal attack on Abdullah family has exposed the politicians to the hilt. Both of them have vindicated an old adage "politics is a dirty game" and "all is fair in love and war." Sajad Lone's father Abdul Gani Lone was a three-time MLA before joining the separatist ranks when militancy erupted in 1990. Late Abdul Gani Lone was killed by militants in 2002 during a rally at Eidgah in Srinagar. Sajad said goodbye to separatist camp in 2009 and contested the Parliamentary elections unsuccessfully. When Sajad Lone lost the Parliamentary elections in 2009, Omar is on record saying, "We wish Sajad was a NC leader." Late Abdul Gani Lone had represented Handwara constituency thrice from 1967 to 1983. He also won in the 1983 Assembly elections but from Karnah seat of the district. Sajad is banking on the immense goodwill his father enjoyed in Handwara and its adjoining areas to sail through. Peoples Conference entering the poll fray in north Kashmir has unnerved the ruling National Conference and fearing that PC may turn the tables on the NC candidates, including their two ministers Chaudary Mohammad Ramzan, who is pitted against Sajad and Mir Saifullah. Omar who visited Handwara on Saturday projected Sajad as the "number one enemy" of Muslims and blamed him for having entered into a secret alliance with BJP. The Chief Minister drove home a point that BJP is "anti-Muslim" party and people who support it sail in the same boat. One can understand Omar's "anger" and "frustration" as Sajad Lone achieved the distinction of being one among a few Kashmiri leaders who were entertained by the Prime Minister Modi in New Delhi. Omar despite being a Chief Minister of the state has failed to come close to Modi. Sajad reacting to Omar's remarks was "quite natural" but he should have refrained from attacking Abdullah family. The accusations and counter allegations have polarized the environment in the volatile Handwara constituency, where from BJP did not field any candidate against Sajad and left field open for him. Winning and losing are a part of politics. Unfortunately the politicians in Jammu and Kashmir during the recent election campaigning have made it a habit to fire salvos at each other. It seems they have nothing to offer to the masses and they are just selling slogans for the sake of power. |
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