Anantnag, Apr 18: Joined by National Conference (NC) Vice President and former chief minister Omar Abdullah, senior NC leader and Lok Sabha candidate for the Anantnag-Rajouri seat Mian Altaf Thursday filed his nomination papers.
Altaf, an influential Gujjar spiritual leader is contesting the election as an INDIA alliance candidate.
He was also accompanied by the Congress General Secretary Ghulam Ahmad Mir.
Following the submission of his nomination papers, the party vice president Omar Abdullah told the media persons that they were hopeful about Altaf’s victory.
In response to Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s remarks on the devastation wrought by the gun culture in J&K, Omar said that the NC had borne the brunt of the violence.
“More than 4000 NC workers including the party’s senior functionaries and former legislators lost their lives to this gun culture. I can’t do anything if the Home Minister cannot see these sacrifices,” Omar said.
Replying to a question regarding the former chief minister Ghulam Nabi Azad’s decision not to contest elections, Omar said that he already knew about it.
“If he didn’t contest from his Doda seat, why would he contest from the Anantnag seat,” Omar said.
He said that his party had now fielded a candidate and the level of support they would receive would be known in the future.
About the BJP’s absence from the polls, Omar said that 24 hours were still left for filing the nomination papers.
“They may find a candidate by doing some magic,” he said.
Later, addressing a public gathering in Anantnag, Omar criticised the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for sewing an alliance with BJP.
“They were already in league with the BJP. This alliance was formed before 2014,” Omar said.
He said that his party extended unconditional support to the PDP in 2014, but the PDP did not accept it.
“Not only once but we extended support to our opponents thrice. You will not find such an example in the entire country,” Omar said.