BJP staying away from issues of common people: Dr Farooq Abdullah

Srinagar, May 11: National Conference President Dr Farooq Abdullah today alleged that BJP is staying away from the issues of the common people.

He was addressing an election rally at Hazratbal here. Dr Farooq Abdullah was accompanied by Srinagar Parliament candidate Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi. The rally was organised by Provincial President Youth National Conference (YNC) and In-Charge Hazratbal Salman Ali Sagar.

Party General Secretary Ali Muhammad Sagar, Chief Spokesperson Tanvir Sadiq, DP Srinagar Peer Afaq Ahmad, party leaders Mohd Syed Akhoon, Dr Sameer Koul, Khalid Najeeb Suharwardhy, and Provincial President Women’s Wing Sabiya Qadri were also present on the occasion.

Addressing the gathering, Dr Farooq said that ruling BJP was trying to create fear among Hindus, staying away from the issues of the common people that propelled him to the top post in 2014. “PM Modi is trying to create fear among Hindus and to create that fear, he is telling them that your mangalsutras will be taken away and sold to give money to Muslims,” he said adding, “Are we such bad people that we will snatch mangalsutras from our mothers and sisters?”

“When Modi came to power in 2014, he used to raise the issue of the price of LPG cylinders. The price of a domestic gas cylinder was ?400 at that time. He used to raise the issue of price rise, unemployment. Ten years have gone by and what is the price of a gas cylinder now? It is ?1,100. Diesel prices have risen, cooking oil prices have gone up, the prices of vegetables, mutton etc. have increased. He installed smart metres that run even when there is no electricity,” NC President added.

Later Dr Farooq led a car rally in Pampore and traversed through various areas in the constituency. He made stopovers at a number of places and was accorded a warm welcome by people. He was accompanied by MP Hasnain Masoodi, Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi, party leaders.