Jammu and Kashmir polls: NC Chief Farooq Abdullah calls for thoughtful voting, warns against "agents from Delhi"

"Think carefully," the former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister said and asked voters to be aware of individuals "sent by Delhi" who may not have their best interests at heart.

"They are like devils in disguise," he warned while stressing the importance of being vigilant during elections.

Looking to galvanise support for the NC-Congress combine, Abdullah said, "Where you see the hand (Congress' poll symbol), vote for the hand. Where you see the plough (NC poll symbol), vote for the plough." The NC chief did not hold back his thoughts while discussing Baramulla MP Sheikh Abdul Rashid alias Engineer Rashid, who, he believes, is being used by the BJP to "manipulate" voter dynamics.

"Time will tell. People now know it is not the same thing as it was earlier... He's from Delhi, he's from BJP and he's playing a part in dividing the votes," he said.

Abdullah alleged that Rashid was "representing his master's voice actually... He's part of BJP... I pity him." "He's seeing how Muslims are being treated in the rest of the country and he doesn't realise that this may come here also. He may also be completely finished by the very powers that are projecting him today. I feel sad for him. I hope people will understand one day where he stands," he said.

Rashid, who was arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on charges of terror funding on August 9, 2019, had defeated NC vice president Omar Abdullah in the recent Lok Sabha elections from Baramulla.

On the BJP’s statements about restoring Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood, Abdullah expressed distrust. "I don’t think I can trust them," he said. "They say one thing and do another. Why announce that the L-G will retain all powers before the elections? That’s the tragedy."

When asked if the post-poll government would be weak, Abdullah replied, "It will be a strong government. It will restore dignity and honour to Jammu and Kashmir." He dismissed concerns of weakness, stating that critics "need to rethink."

Reacting to Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s recent call for terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir to lay down their arms and engage in dialogue, Abdullah said, "I cannot trust what he says," accusing Shah of making contradictory statements about the region’s governance and economic situation.

He further criticized the BJP for failing to deliver on its promises, pointing to rising inflation and job losses as evidence of poor governance.

Referring to the ongoing threat of terrorism, Abdullah said, "Terrorism is at its peak today. It won’t end unless we unite the people." He reiterated his call for dialogue with neighbouring countries, emphasizing that peaceful relations are essential for progress.

"If we maintain good relations with our neighbours, we can progress and focus on development instead of spending on the military," Abdullah said, advocating for the restoration of SAARC to foster regional cooperation.

On the visits of foreign delegates to Kashmir during election time, Abdullah questioned their purpose. "If we are truly part of India, why don’t these delegations visit states like Haryana, Jharkhand, or Maharashtra during their elections?" he asked.

He condemned the selective access given to foreign diplomats while foreign journalists are restricted, alleging that the government fears the truth being revealed.

Abdullah also highlighted the impact of low voter turnout, attributing it to a climate of fear and repression under the current administration. "People are suffocated. They are jailed for speaking against the government," he said.

"Our journalists, who dare to report the truth, find themselves behind bars. We are not free, we are essentially a colony of Delhi. It is crucial that we work to dismantle this colonial rule." About the longstanding issue of a disconnect between the people of Kashmir and the Central government, he said, "When I last met with officials in Delhi, I made it clear that there is a deep mistrust. You must rebuild trust," he said.

Abdullah recalled the government's statements promising efforts to bridge the gap between Delhi and Kashmir, saying, "They claimed they wanted to reduce the distance between us. But what have they done? Have they released the innocent youths who are still imprisoned? They assured us that they would, yet nothing has changed."

(With PTI inputs)