Barely few days ahead of commencement of general elections, National Conference President Farooq Abdullah on Sunday raised questions over reliability of Electronic Voting Machines (EVM).
“April 18 is the voting date (in Srinagar). Do check themachines (EVM) while casting voting and remain cautious. These machines havebeen manipulated. I said the same thing in Kolkata,” said Abdullah whileaddressing an election rally at Rajbagh here.
Continuing with his doubts about the EVMs, Abdullah, who iscontesting Srinagar Lok Sabha seat, said, “You vote for one party and the voteget cast to other party. You should remain cautious and check the slip (aftercasting vote) to find whether the vote has been cast rightly….don’t be afraid,this is you right,” said Abdullah.
The first phase of the election will be held on April 11. InKashmir, Baramulla parliamentary seat will go to polls on the day.
Questioning New Delhi over its claims about bringing down anF-16 of Pakistan during recent escalation between India and Pakistan, Abdullahsaid government of India was now terming the statement of US that no aircrafthad been brought down as wrong.
“During Kargil war it was the US which provided us with mapsand picture about Pakistan Army in Mushkoh Valley in the desert region. I havemyself seen those pictures. That time we listened to them, but today when theysay that no Pakistani aircraft has been brought down, they are termed liars,”said Abdullah.
He said government of India should approach United Nationsfor setting up a commission to bring truth to the fore about the claims made bygovernment of India. “It will become clear whose aircraft has been broughtdown,” said Abdullah.
A US count of the Pakistani F-16s has found that no aircraftis missing indicating India’s claim of striking down a Pakistani fighter jetduring recent military escalation between the two countries may be “wrong”, anAmerican magazine has reported.
But India has repeatedly said that Wing Commander AbhinandanVardhaman’s Mig-21 shot down an F-16 in a dogfight before his own plane wentdown on other side of the LoC.
The Indian Air Force has said there were radio signaturesand communication which showed that one of the two ejections sighted onFebruary 27 was a Lockheed Martin F-16 aircraft of the Pakistan Air Force.
“Let there be the commission, the truth will come to thefore,” said Abdullah.
Abdullah said when Modi came to power he promises “sab kasaath, sab ka vika”. “What did you (Modi) did for J&K? Did you bring peacehere and did u stop bloodshed. This government is the biggest liar….he (the PM)has set entire country on fire and is taking the nation on a dangerous path.”
Abdullah said the upcoming election was a “challenge to saveIndia and its secular character”. “The big question is to ensure that 22 croreMuslims and crores of Sikhs and people from other minorities in this countrycan live with dignity,” said Abdullah, adding the election was a challenge tosave the rights of minorities.
Hitting out at RSS for its “design to divide” India said theparty wants to turn India into a “Hindu Rashtra”.
“Mahatma Gandhi gave his life for the country. He fought foreverybody. Who killed him? It was the same RSS that is creating problems inIndia,” said Abdullah.
Hitting out at PDP, BJP and Peoples Conference Abdullahasked people to reject them during the upcoming election. “Be cautious of them;one of them will come with Apple (PC), another will come with flower (Lotus ofBJP) and another one with Ink and Pot (PDP), reject them all,” saidAbdullah.
He said till yesterday the PC was in alliance with BJP andtoday the party is claiming to protect J&K’s special position. “Where wereyou till yesterday,” Abdullah asked.”These ink-pot people are also makingclaims to save Article 370 and Article 35A. She (Mehbooba) didn’t know tillrugs were pulled beneath her feet”.