Does Congress support NC’s separatism, terrorism? CM Yogi questions Congress, NC pre-poll alliance in J&K

Lucknow, Aug 24: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has questioned the decision of the Congress party to forge a pre-poll alliance for the upcoming Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir with the National Conference, which in its election manifesto pitched for a dialogue between India and Pakistan.

Polling will be held in three phases in Jammu and Kashmir with the first phase starting from September 18 following annoucement of election schedule by the Election Commisision.

Reacting to their announcement, chief minster Adityanath told ANI on Saturday, "Elections have been announced for J&K assembly elections. This election is not only important for the people of Jammu and Kashmir but also for every Indian who believes in democracy. The Congress, which is leading the INDI Alliance, has formed a coalition with the National Conference of the Abdullah Family and once again placed its anti-national plan before the country."

Adityanath said that the pre-poll alliance of the two parties gives rise to big questions about national security and committment to the Constitution.

"Recently, the National Conference released its manifesto ... This alliance of the Congress and the National Conference raises many big questions about national security and their loyalty to the Indian Constitution," the Uttar Pradesh chief minister said.

He questioned the leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, over the National Confrence's decision to start trade across the Line of Control, one of 12 guarantees promised in its manifesto.

The Uttar Pradesh minister said, "I want to ask Congress leader Rahul Gandhi whether the Congress supports the announcement of the National Conference, to have a separate flag for Jammu and Kashmir...Does the Congress Party and Rahul Gandhi support the decision of the National Conference to start trade across the Line of Control and support terrorism and its ecosystem from across the border? ... Congress should answer this ... "

Ahead of the Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections, the Congress and the National Conference announced a pre-poll alliance and said that "they have reached a consensus on most of the seats."

"We said we will encourage it (Dialogue between India and Pakistan)...We have always been in favour of dialogue, and in future also we will remain in favour...As a responsible party, and being in government we will do everything in our power to encourage that dialogue...What is wrong in encouraging a dialogue." Omar Abdullah told reporters on August 19 in Srinagar after releasing the party manifesto.

The Congress and the NC had fought the Lok Sabha elections in alliance with each other. The National Conference won two seats - Anantnag and Srinagar. The Congress could not win any seat.

The last date for filing the nomination papers is August 27.

Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir will be held in three phases on September 18, 25 and October 1. The results will be announced on October 4.

24 Assembly seats will go to polls in the first phase on September 18.

The seats, that will go to polls in the first phase, are Pampore, Tral, ulwama, Rajpora, Zainapora, Shopian, D H Pora, Kulgam, Devsar, Dooru, Kokernag (ST), Anantnag West, Anantnag, Srigufwara-Bijbehara, Shangus-Anantnag East, Pahalgam, Inderwal, Kishtwar, Padder-Nagseni, Bhadarwah, Doda, Doda West, Ramban, and Banihal.

A total of 90 assembly constituencies will go to the polls in Jammu and Kashmir. The last assembly election in Jammu and Kashmir was held in 2014. The counting will take place on October 4.