Lone bastion sports NC colours for Omar

The National Conference’s chief ministerial candidate, Omar Abdullah, today ventured into enemy territory and took a direct hit at sepa...

The National Conference’s chief ministerial candidate, Omar Abdullah, today ventured into enemy territory and took a direct hit at separatist Peoples’ Conference, whose leaders are fighting as proxy candidates in the elections.

Located close to the Line of Control, Handwara used to be the political bastion of slain Hurriyat leader Abdul Gani Lone. His close lieutenant and Peoples’ Conference leader Ghulam Mohideen Sofi is contesting from here and giving a tough fight to the NC’s sitting MLA and senior Cabinet minister Choudhary Mohammad Ramzan.

	Sajjad Lone’s security beefed up
SRINAGAR: Security around the house of Peoples’ Conference Chairman Sajjad Gani Lone has been reinforced following reports of suspected militant movement around the house last night. Police sources said a CRPF platoon was deployed at Lone’s house today following reports that a group of three-four militants had carried out a reconnaissance mission around the Lone house at Sanatnagar. A senior police official visited the house today. (ENS) Story continues below this ad

Sofi began his election campaign with a massive rally in Handwara and today it was time for Omar to answer the challenge. And he did, in style. His cavalcade was accompanied by supporters beating drums to the venue, where more than a thousand party workers sporting party colours cheered every word of the ‘‘next’’ chief minister.

Omar focused on jobs, promising one government post to every family, and ridiculed the PC for its promise of azadi. ‘‘This election will not bring azadi to Kashmir. They are misleading you. This election is only for electing the new government, and nothing else,’’ he said.

Calling the PC’s proxy participation as a brazen example of its double standards, he said: ‘‘On one hand they talk of separatism, of azadi and of Pakistan, and remain an important part of the Hurriyat Conference. But inside their closed rooms, they come up with a different agenda…At the time of filing nomination papers, their candidates took oath of allegiance to the Indian Constitution and when they came out, they again sang separatism.’’

Hurriyat cancels Delhi visit

NEW DELHI/SRINAGAR: Hurriyat Conference leaders today cancelled their meeting with the Kashmir Committee in Delhi on Saturday amid claims and counter claims over their reported house arrest in Srinagar.
While the J-K government said the leaders were free to travel under police escort and that a vehicle was sent to take chief Abdul Gani Bhat to the airport, the conglomerate cancelled the Delhi visit. The decision was taken after K.M. Khalil, Hurriyat spokesman, met Pakistan High Commission officials in Delhi and spoke to Bhat.

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Sources said the Hurriyat had instructions from across the border to concentrate on poll boycott. (PTI)

Warming up to the topic, Omar added: ‘‘Your problems are unemployment, roads, hospitals, schools — which were burnt by them (the separatists). Do they (PC) have any answer for that?…They have blood of your youngmen on their hands. Those youngmen who were lured by their azadi slogans, and now they have again come to seek votes…If they wanted your votes, if they wanted power, why did they ruin Kashmir for 13 years?’’

Omar also challenged the Hurriyat to come and start an anti-election campaign here. ‘‘If PC leaders in Sringar have vowed to stick to the Hurriyat stand of poll boycott, why don’t they come here? They are liars.’’

Showing how fast he is becoming a consummate politician, Omar started his speech in his poor Kashmiri, apologising for it and leaving the villagers charmed. He admitted his handicap, and added: ‘‘But I am seriously learning. People call me Sonia Gandhi of Kashmir. I am better than her, I only make small mistakes.’’ The crowd burst out laughing.