National Conference Vice-President Omar Abdullah Sunday said the Jammu and Kashmir leadership of the Congress party was “remote-controlled by their top leadership in New Delhi”.
He was talking to media-persons after addressing an electionrally to campaign for the party’s candidate HassnainMasoodi, in Aishmuqam areahere.
“The Congress party’s state leadership has no say indecision-making. I have worked with the party for six years. I always foundthat their state leadership has to seek permission from the central leadershipfor even taking minor decisions,” Omar said.
He, however, said that their party representative does nothave to listen to the voice of New Delhi.
“He even does not have to listen to his own party leadershipbut only the voice of the people of Kashmir,” Omar said. “Masoodi sahib is thebest candidate available right now and I hope the people of south Kashmir willchoose him”.
Asking the people to come out and vote for Masoodi on April23, Omar said: “Though some elements have tried to create an atmosphere of fearin Anantnag, but I hope the people will come out to exercise their franchise.The boycott will only benefit RSS and BJP”.
He said the situation in South Kashmir was better than thescheduled LokSabha by-election of April 2017 which had to be cancelled later.
“The situation for campaigning was much conducive this timearound than it was during the scheduled by-elections in 2017,” Omar said.
Omar also castigated the Peoples Democratic Party PresidentMehbooba Mufti for “facilitating the issuance of fake Permanent ResidentCertificates during her rule”.
“When her then cabinet minister Basharat Bukhari sahibbrought the issue of issuance of fake state subjects into her notice, she keptit under the carpet instead of initiating a probe into it. So, if she could notprotect the special character of our state here, how she could do so in theParliament?” Omar asked.
He also asked the Election Commission of India (ECI) toprove their credentials of being an independent institution.
“If the ECI is really an unbiased institution, then theyshould take action against senior BJP leaders who have been continuouslyviolating the model code of conduct (MCC),” he said.