NC-Congress alliance will shatter NDA’s 10-year dream in J&K: Karra

Srinagar, Sep 05: In a pointed critique of the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) coalition, J&K Congress President Tariq Hameed Karra Thursday said that the anxiety within the NDA camp over the newly-formed National Conference (NC)-Congress alliance in J&K reveals the deeper significance of the coalition.

Speaking to reporters after filing his nomination papers from Central Shalteng constituency, he said that the alliance was not merely an electoral strategy but a noble cause aimed at preserving the dignity, identity, and constitutional rights of the people of J&K.

“If their alliances are right, why do they have an issue with ours? The plan they had laid out is being disrupted by this coalition, which is not just for electoral gains but for safeguarding the rights given by the constitution,” Karra said, taking a direct swipe at the NDA.

He said that the NC-Congress alliance was about more than government formation.

“This alliance is to restore the dignity of the people, to uphold all the rights that our constitution has guaranteed,” Karra said, stressing that the upcoming elections carry far-reaching consequences.

He pointed to the fragmentation of votes since 2014, alleging that the ruling coalition aims to disempower  Kashmiris by dividing their votes.

“Any mistake made today in these elections will have an effect for the next 100 years,” Karra said, urging voters to be cautious.

Reflecting on his longstanding connection with the people of J&K, he said, “I have been with the people whether or not I was in the electoral fray. We have worked together closely over the years, and that connection remains strong.”

Accompanied by enthusiastic supporters, Karra filed his nomination papers in Central Shalteng, a constituency that is among the key regions heading to the polls in the second phase of J&K assembly polls on September 25.

“This is not just my nomination, but a representation of the aspirations of the people of J&K who have yearned for democracy and justice,” he told reporters after submitting his papers.

Karra, who once served as a prominent PDP leader before joining the Congress in 2017, said that the NC-Congress alliance stands as a strong front against what he described as the NDA’s attempts at “dictatorship.”

“This is not just an election after 10 years; it is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to shape Jammu and Kashmir's destiny for the next century,” he said.

Karra described his nomination as “a tribute to every single Kashmiri who has cried for democracy and justice, and every citizen who laid down their life for secularism”.

Karra, who recently took over as Congress’ J&K chief, further elaborated on the alliance with NC, describing it as a joint effort to reclaim what is “rightfully ours”.

“We will fight for the restoration of statehood, the protection of our identity, and the rights of our people. The BJP's divisive politics will not succeed in Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.

Karra dismissed concerns over independent candidates entering the race, suggesting they were part of a strategy to fragment the vote.

“This is why it becomes even more crucial for people to discern what is right and wrong,” he said.

Responding to BJP General Secretary Ram Madhav’s allegation that ex-terrorists were supporting NC and PDP candidates, Karra said, “Madhav should know who the BJP has recruited here. He may have more information and experience about this than anyone else.”

Asserting that the BJP’s discomfort over the NC-Congress alliance reflects their concerns, he said, “They are seeing their dreams of the last 10 years shatter before them. They also form alliances across the country, so why are they troubled by this one?”