Srinagar:National Conference Vice President Omar Abdullah, on Friday, announced that he has accepted Engineer Rasheed’s challenge and will accompany him to Tihar Jail in Delhi.
Speaking to reporters in Kulgam, Omar said, “I will travel with Engineer Rasheed to Delhi and do whatever is necessary to ensure our vote is not split. He has challenged me to drop him off at Tihar Jail, and I accept.”
Earlier, soon after his release from Tihar Jail on Wednesday, Engineer Rasheed, in a live Facebook session, challenged Omar to accompany him to the Tihar Jail. He said, “If Omar Abdullah will only accompany me up to Tihar Jail the day I am taken back, I promise we will withdraw candidates against him from Ganderbal and Budgam.”Omar said that he accepts the challenge and that now it is time for Engineer Rasheed to stand by what he said.
Engineer Rasheed, currently out on interim bail to campaign for his party, has become a central figure in the Awami Ittihaad Party (AIP) campaigns. His sons have been appealing to the public to vote for AIP, claiming it would help secure their father’s release.Addressing this, Omar said, “People in Baramulla were told that their vote could bring someone out of jail. But it is important to understand that votes don’t release prisoners – the legal process does.”
Omar also spoke about the pre-poll alliance between the National Conference (NC) and Congress, emphasising the need to defeat the BJP and its allies in Jammu and Kashmir. “The BJP has made the people of JK suffer. Everywhere you go, people are in distress. To change this, the BJP and its allies must be defeated. That’s why we are standing before you as part of this alliance, making it clear that we have no association with the BJP. Other parties, directly or indirectly, are supporting them.”
He urged the public to support the NC-Congress alliance. “We appeal to the people to vote for the alliance so we can undo the damage caused over the last 8 to 10 years.”
On the party’s manifesto, Omar said, “Our manifesto addresses key issues – the Kashmir issue, Article 370, dialogue between India and Pakistan, and the everyday challenges of the people. Tell me, what have we left out that isn’t in the interest of the people here?”