Omar alleges secret pact

Srinagar, Sep 07: National Conference (NC) Vice President and candidate for Ganderbal constituency Omar Abdullah Saturday accused New Delhi of conspiring against him in a bid to undermine the region's unique identity.

Addressing a series of workers meeting across Ganderbal on the second consecutive day today, he alleged that BJP had struck a deal with some regional parties and some independent candidates to be part of the government in Jammu and Kashmir.

“Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Jammu was silent about the Apni Party and People’s Conference during his speech at the BJP’s manifesto launch on Friday. Those who have struck deals with New Delhi cannot fulfil your demands. If you need evidence for this, just look at the statement of Home Minister Amit Shah in Jammu yesterday. The home minister listed the parties with which BJP will not form the government. He was, however, silent about the independents because they are hand in glove (with them). He was silent about the Apni Party and People’s Conference,” Omar said.

He reiterated his claim that people who were in jails were specifically contesting against him and cited the names of Awami Ittehad Party’s Engineer Rasheed — who defeated him in the Lok Sabha polls - and separatist Sarjan Ahmad Wagay alias Barkati who is pitted against the NC leader in the upcoming assembly polls.

“I wonder why people in jail are after me and want to contest elections against me. What is the reason?” Omar asked.

He had earlier suggested that Barkati, who was from Zainapora, Shopian, was contesting against him as part of “a conspiracy from Delhi," hinting again at the central government.

Omar said it was not a coincidence that these jailed people are contesting polls against him.

“They want to target only one person — the National Conference candidate from Ganderbal,” he said.