Amit Shah’s visit to Kashmir was to help BJP’s ‘proxy candidates’, says Omar Abdullah

Abdullah stated that the National Conference has always pushed for better ties between India and Pakistan.

Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah said on May 17 that the Union Home Minister Amit Shah's recent visit to Kashmir for the Lok Sabha elections was intended to support candidates from the BJP's "proxy" parties in the current national elections.

Shah concluded his brief visit to the Kashmir Valley on May 17, where he met with a number of delegations, including local Sikhs and BJP members, according to authorities.

In the Bandipora area of north Kashmir's Gurez sector, close to the Line of Control, he informed reporters that although the BJP has not fielded its own candidates, "its 'B', 'C' and 'D' teams — be it the bucket, apple, cricket bat or ink-pot — have been working on its directions."

The Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP), People's Conference, Apni Party, and People's Democratic Party (PDP) election emblems, respectively, were the ones Abdullah was alluding to.

These parties have united to attack the National Conference, according to the former chief minister of the state, on orders from the central government.

Although there were rumours that the minister met with several major political figures in Kashmir during his visit during the Lok Sabha elections, there was no official statement about the minister's activities prior to his departure from the Valley.

Abdullah told reporters, “I don’t know whom the home minister met and I don’t want to know. But I definitely know that the home minister came here just to help in the elections.” The National Conference vice-president is contesting the Lok Sabha elections from the Baramulla constituency.

“Recently, (DPAP chief) Ghulam Nabi Azad announced support for (jailed former MLA) Engineer Rashid. As far as I know Azad, he would not have taken such a decision without the permission of the prime minister or the home minister. So, it is a possibility that all these parties have come together only to target the National Conference,” Abdullah added. Rashid filed his nomination from Tihar jail to contest from Baramulla, which goes to the polls on May 20.

BJP's backing

Though it hasn't formally endorsed any of the three Lok Sabha seats in Kashmir, the BJP has offered its support to a few of the newly established political groups that resulted from the repeal of Article 370.

Speaking to a question concerning the circumstances in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK), Abdullah stated that the National Conference has always pushed for better ties between India and Pakistan.

“Me and my party have always said that the two nations will have to improve relations. They will have to create an atmosphere to improve relations and, for that, the responsibility lies with the leadership of both countries,” he said.

“There is a new government in Pakistan and we will have a new government here after June 4 — the people will decide who the prime minister will be. But we hope that both the countries will create such an atmosphere that we are able to establish a relationship of friendship,” Abdullah added.

(With inputs from PTI)