STATE TIMES NEWS

Srinagar: The National Conference, biggest regional party of Jammu and Kashmir, on Thursday announced it would contest the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections and possible assembly polls in the Union Territory “on its own”.
This was announced by the party chief and Lok Sabha MP Farooq Abdullah here. It comes as yet another setback to the INDIA bloc as well as the regional PAGD alliance.
“Elections will happen and I think both assembly and Parliament elections will be held together.
“As far as seat sharing is concerned, I want to make it clear that the National Conference will contest elections on its own. There are no two views about it,” Abdullah told reporters here.
Abdullah welcomed the forthcoming visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Jammu and Kashmir next week. “The prime minister is coming, it is a good thing. He is going to announce some projects”.
On the Supreme Court ruling on electoral bonds, Abdullah while welcoming the verdict said people have a right to know where the money for political parties is coming from.
“May the Almighty make this happen that the government accepts this (verdict) and the political parties follow this direction to declare how much money they got and from where they got it.
“People should know where the money power is coming from. It is necessary. I hope it happens before the general election,” Abdullah added.
Abdullah, who has been summoned by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with alleged scam in Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association, echoed similar views of the opposition parties that the federal probe agency was being used to target their leaders.
“I am myself under the ED scanner. I will appear before them, I am not scared of the ED or anyone else. Let them do what they want. If they think they can finish off the National Conference by jailing Farooq Abdullah, it will not happen because the National Conference is a movement,” he said.
On the farmers’ protest, the Lok Sabha member from Srinagar hoped that better sense prevails over the Centre and a resolution is found to the issue.
“When the farm bills were brought in, the Opposition made noise that a select committee should be formed and the lacunae in these bills be addressed. But they brought the bills on the back of a brute majority. What was the result? Nearly 750 farmers were martyred. When the UP elections were around the corner, they took back all three bills.
“Now, general elections are round the corner and today the farmers are again protesting. I pray that better sense prevails on them (Centre) and no innocent farmer gets killed,” he said.
On the chaotic situation in Pakistan and whether it can affect India, Abdullah said a “stable Pakistan is needed for stable India. Unstable Pakistan is not good for us”.
None of the three major parties, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, the Pakistan People’s Party, or the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf have won the necessary seats in the February 8 general elections to secure a majority in the National Assembly and, therefore, will be unable to form a government on their own.
Abdullah condemned the killing of labourers from Punjab by terrorists here last week. “It is unfortunate that innocent people who have nothing to do with politics are being killed. But the one who killed them knew what would happen to their families. Does any religion allow killing innocents? Religion does not permit killing even the guilty. That is the job of the law. So, I condemn it,” he said.

Omar clarifies: NC in talks with Cong for 3 LS seats, part of INDIA bloc

Srinagar: The National Conference is a part of the INDIA grouping and will continue to be, party leader Omar Abdullah clarified on Thursday and said it is in talks with the Congress for an arrangement in three of the six Lok Sabha seats in Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh. Omar Abdullah’s statement came shortly after NC chief Farooq Abdullah told reporters that the party would contest the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections and possible assembly polls in the Union Territory on its own.
“We were a part of the INDIA alliance and we still are. Things have been taken out of context. The main idea of the grouping is to defeat the BJP because there is no point in sailing in two boats,” Omar Abdullah said with his father, also the party’s Srinagar MP, by his side.
Farooq Abdullah, he said, was echoing the general sentiments of party workers.
“NC workers want to fight elections on all six seats but the truth is that sometimes for a bigger objective, small sacrifices have to be made.
“If the bigger objective is to win seats back from the BJP, it is necessary for the National Conference to enter into a seat sharing understanding with the Congress. Our doors are open,” the party’s vice president said.
Informal talks with the Congress are already on and there is scope for further discussions, he said.
“…I would like to make it very clear that our commitment to the INDIA grouping remains even though the founding members of the alliance have unfortunately left over the past few weeks. We are not among those who will leave. We will continue our discussions with the Congress and hope to arrive at some agreement soon,” he said.
The six Lok Sabha seats in Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh are Baramulla, Srinagar, Anantnag, Jammu, Udhampur and Ladakh. Of these, the three seats in the Valley — Baramulla, Srinagar, Anantnag — are with the NC. The other three are with the BJP.
“…Once we make friends, we stick to that…I would like to make it categorically clear that no door, no window and not even a crack is open for NDA,” Omar Abdullah said, dismissing reports that Farooq Abdullah was hinting that the NC was not averse to joining the NDA as “mischievous and concocted”.
He said his party’s job was also to get the maximum number of seats in the assembly elections, as and when they are held, so the process of “undoing the damage done to Jammu and Kashmir by the BJP” can be begin.
Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the union territory next week, Omar Abdullah said, “We will also get to know how much development has happened in Jammu and Kashmir.”
One thing that the people would like to hear from the prime minister is whether his party will honour the Supreme Court’s decision to hold assembly elections before September this year, he said.
“Also, the prime minister, who is the biggest supporter of one nation, one election, should begin the process by holding simultaneous elections in Jammu and Kashmir,” Omar Abdullah said.