Omar, Mehbooba drift away with ‘vengeance’
Srinagar: In a dramatic turn of events, Peoples Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) has technically ended today as Mehbooba Mufti said that she was disappointed with Dr Farooq Abdullah for ending the alliance ‘without informing us.’
Mufti’s reaction came hours after NC Vice President, Omar Abdullah told media that NC will either contest on Anantnag Lok Sabha seat itself or support Congress if Rahul, Priyanka or Sonia Gandhi choose to contest from the seat.
He categorically said no to NC supporting PDP in Anantnag Lok Sabha seat.
Following Omar’s assertion, PDP President, Mehbooba Mufti said that PAGD was a resistance movement which New Delhi wanted to end from day one and today NC has ended it.
“PDP may be down but not out, we will go to people and put our case in front of them and will go to Delhi to represent people of J&K,” Mehbooba told media.
Addressing a news conference here, National Conference Vice-President Omar Abdullah today declared that the NC would field candidates from all three seats in the Kashmir valley during the upcoming LS polls.
He stated that conceding the Anantnag seat to the PDP was out of the question justifying his decision by citing the PDP’s dismal performance in the 2019 LS polls.
He expressed openness to offering the seat to Congress if they chose to contest against the BJP, but firmly ruled out accommodating the PDP. Accusing the PDP of breaching coalition principles and engaging in social media attacks against the NC, Omar emphasized that the alliance’s primary purpose was to represent the aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
He criticized the “PDP’s mudslinging tactics and stressed that responsibility for maintaining the alliance should not solely rest on the NC”.
In a swift response, PDP President Mehbooba Mufti termed the NC’s decision as a “setback to the hopes of the people of J&K”.
She accused the National Conference of breaking PAGD unity, saying that Omar Abdullah has himself said that PDP is out of the alliance.
She asserted that the PAGD was formed to represent the core interests of Jammu and Kashmir, emphasizing the need to prioritize the region’s welfare over individual political gains.
When asked about Omar’s jibe of PDP standing 3rd during the 2019 LS elections from Anantnag seat, Mehbooba said that both Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah have lost elections in the past. “Does that mean they should not contest again? This logic is bizarre,” Mehbooba said.
