National Conference(NC) president Farooq Abdullah Monday made serious allegations against theBJP-led Centre, saying it ordered the air strike in Pakistan’s Balakot with the”sole purpose” of winning Lok Sabha elections.
The Srinagar MPalleged the BJP has “failed” on all fronts and it was apprehendedthat there would be a fight or skirmish with Pakistan before the polls so thatPrime Minister Narendra Modi becomes some kind of an “avatar” withoutwhom India cannot survive.
“This surgicalstrike (air strike) was done only for the purpose of election…Totally for theelection. We lost an aircraft worth crores of rupees. Be thankful that the IAFpilot (Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman) survived and returned from Pakistanwith respect,” Abdullah told reporters here.
In a predawnexercise on February 26, the Indian Air Force targeted Jaish-e-Mohammed’s’biggest training camp’ in Balakot. The air strike came in response to a attackin Pulwama on February 14, in which 40 CRPF personnel were killed.
Abdullah saidMonday, “In the Parliament, we knew they have failed on all other thingsand that there would be a fight or a skirmish with Pakistan in Kashmir so thathe (Prime Minister Narendra Modi) becomes some kind of an ‘avatar’ without whomIndia cannot survive. But I want to tell him that whether he or I live or not,India will live and move forward,” .
The NC presidentsaid an atmosphere of fear was being created to help the BJP in the polls.
“They want tocreate an atmosphere of fear. There would be no war. The whole world iswatching. This government is only using the senior officer for winning theelection, the officer whom they got by superseding many others and who is nowdancing to their tunes. Otherwise, there is no danger,” he said, without namingthe “officer”.
“Thisatmosphere of fear that they have created in the country that without himanything will happen, I want to tell him that you were neither a God and neverwill be,” he said.
Abdullah said thereis no other way than to talk to Pakistan over the Kashmir issue.
“They (NewDelhi) have brought this (Kashmir) into international limelight. Severalcountries are now involved in making India and Pakistan to talk over Kashmirand they will have to engage themselves as it is the only way forward,” hesaid.
Asked about theElection Commission of India’s decision to delay the assembly polls in thestate, Abdullah said he feared some “mischief” by the Centre in J-K.
“I think theymust have thought of doing some mischief, that’s why they delayed the polls. Ido not understand that when thousands of people took part in the Panchayat andmunicipal polls, what danger they think there is now when forces are present inlarger number than they were. And they are present in every nook and corner ofthe state,” he said.
The NC presidentsaid all parties are in favour of holding simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assemblypolls and now the public should understand what their motive is.
“If we unite,their designs will fail. We should prepare for that..For not giving a chance tothe Centre for destruction. So, we all should stand to confront them…Where isthe mighty government of India which cannot conduct an election here? If thisis not surrender, what is,” he said.
He said if the ECis saying that the environment is conducive for Lok Sabha polls, then why is itnot conducive for the state polls.
“Then theyshould not conduct the Parliament polls. I am surprised over what they are saying.They are contradicting themselves. It is unfortunate that our EC has become theelection commission of the government. A political EC. There is noindependence. I hope there is a new government which gives full independence tothe EC,” he said.
Asked if his partywas thinking of a pre-poll alliance with the Congress, Abdullah said, “Wehave not yet decided on that. We will see that”.
He welcomed theECI’s direction on keeping forces away from electioneering.
“It is good. Ihave seen in my state that soldiers press the button of machines in far-flungareas and I hope the forces are kept at bay this time and they will only beused for security purposes. This should be a free and fair election,” hesaid.