None can break I.N.D.I.Alliance; hopeful of Bhalla’s win: Farooq

Jammu, Apr 2: National Conference president and former Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah Tuesday stated that none could break I.N.D.I.Alliance as it was strong enough to tackle challenges within and outside.

Farooq, who was here to extend support to Congress candidate from Jammu parliamentary seat Raman Bhalla as he filed his nomination papers this morning, was responding to media queries about speculations vis-a-vis “possibility of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to field its candidate on Anantnag-Rajouri seat against National Conference’s candidate and former minister Mian Altaf.”

“Anyone can contest elections here as it is a free country. I’m not afraid of it. This will not pose any threat to I.N.D.I.Alliance. There’s no fear on this account,” he said.

“And who told you that it (PDP) was disappointed (over NC’s decision to field Mian Altaf)? Did you listen to her (Mehbooba Mufti’s) speech in Delhi? We all are united. Don’t try to create dissensions where they don’t exist,” Farooq said.

Interestingly, earlier during the day, his son and former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah too had made a similar statement in Kashmir.

When posed a query about winning prospects of Congress candidate from Jammu seat, NC president exuded confidence of his (Bhalla’s) success in Lok Sabha elections. “Yes, we are hopeful of his win. That’s why we are here,” he replied.

In response to questions about his participation in recent I.N.D.I.Alliance rally at Ramlila Ground in Delhi, Farooq said that Alliance was formed to protect constitution and democracy and the rally had the same objective.

“They (BJP) want to be in power forever, taking cues from Russian and Chinese presidents, by eliminating opposition. But we will not let it happen. We will save democracy and our Constitution given by B R Ambedkar, even if we have to sacrifice our lives,” former Chief Minister said.

When asked about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s statement against Congress for handing over Katchatheevu island to Sri Lanka in 1974, Farooq questioned, “Why are they silent about thousands of kilometers of land encroached by China in Ladakh?”

“Its (China’s) incursion is on despite 18-19 rounds of questions. We posed queries about it in Parliament but did not get any reply. Now it (China) is renaming places in Arunachal Pradesh and making claims. But we did not hear anything from them (BJP). Let’s talk about our land in Ladakh,” he said.