Srinagar, Oct 25: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday lashed out at what he termed “secret supporters” of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) after the outcome of the Rajya Sabha elections in Jammu and Kashmir, where the BJP’s Sat Sharma clinched one of the four seats in a result marred by allegations of cross-voting.
Speaking to reporters in Srinagar, Omar Abdullah said his party, the National Conference (NC), had fought the elections with full commitment and support from its allies but was deceived by a few lawmakers who betrayed the party’s trust. “We tried our best for all four posts. As I said, in the end, some lawmakers deceived us, and I don’t want to name them because people already know who they are,” Omar said.
Expressing gratitude to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Congress for supporting NC candidates, Omar added that betrayal from within had cost the party the fourth seat. “I thank PDP and Congress for voting in favour of the NC. It is of no concern that these people deceived us. Such people used to enjoy our company and finally deceived us when it mattered the most,” he said.
Without directly naming Peoples Conference chairman Sajad Lone, Omar as per the news agency Kashmir News Trust said it was clear that Lone’s silence and abstention worked in favour of the BJP. “Sajad Lone doesn’t want to go against the BJP and thus chose to abstain. His silence speaks louder than words,” Omar remarked.
He asserted that the three winning NC Rajya Sabha members would represent the people of Jammu and Kashmir with integrity and would raise vital issues, including the restoration of statehood, protection of regional identity, and the challenges faced by common people.
“The National Conference remains committed to voicing the aspirations of Jammu and Kashmir at every forum. Our representatives will not only raise the demand for statehood but also highlight the issues that concern every citizen of this Union Territory,” Omar said.
The National Conference won three seats while the BJP managed to secure one, a result that has triggered widespread debate and introspection among regional political parties. [KNT]
