Farooq Abdullah Criticizes BJP and Talks About Kashmir Elections
Former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir and National Conference (NC) leader Farooq Abdullah criticized the BJP-led coalition government, accusing it of aligning with those who once supported Pakistan. He responded to allegations that the unrest in Kashmir was due to the 1987 election rigging by stating, “We didn’t create separatists; Pakistan did.”
Abdullah also questioned the continued terrorism in the region despite the abrogation of Article 370, asking, “Why does terrorism still continue? Where are all the weapons coming from?”
He further questioned Engineer Rashid’s release from jail just before the assembly election, claiming Rashid is an ally of the BJP and RSS, and suggesting his release was intended to divide and suppress the Muslim vote.
The elections in Jammu and Kashmir are scheduled for September 18, 25, and October 1, with counting on October 8. The National Conference and Congress are contesting the assembly polls in alliance, with NC contesting 51 of 90 seats and Congress 32. These are the first assembly polls since the abrogation of Article 370.
Jammu and Kashmir has 88.06 lakh eligible electors, with 90 Assembly constituencies, including 7 seats reserved for SCs and 9 for STs. In the previous elections, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) won 28 seats, BJP secured 25, NC won 15, and Congress won 12.
Doubts Revealed
Farooq Abdullah -: Farooq Abdullah is a senior politician in India and a former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir. He is a member of the National Conference party.
BJP -: BJP stands for Bharatiya Janata Party. It is one of the major political parties in India and is currently leading the central government.
Kashmir -: Kashmir is a region in the northern part of India, known for its beautiful landscapes. It has been a point of conflict between India and Pakistan.
Article 370 -: Article 370 was a special provision in the Indian Constitution that gave special autonomy to the region of Jammu and Kashmir. It was abrogated, or removed, in 2019.
Engineer Rashid -: Engineer Rashid is a politician from Jammu and Kashmir. He was detained but has been released before the upcoming elections.
National Conference -: The National Conference is a political party in Jammu and Kashmir. It is one of the oldest parties in the region.
Congress -: Congress, or the Indian National Congress, is one of the oldest and major political parties in India. It has been in power many times since India’s independence.
Alliance -: An alliance in politics means that two or more parties agree to work together for a common goal, like winning an election.
