Srinagar, May 22 (UNI) The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference Vice President Omar Abdullah on Wednesday questioned PDP President Mehbooba Mufti's association with INDIA bloc, asking why she never campaigned against the BJP and only targeted NC.
He made these comments while addressing a convention at Ashmuqam Anantnag in South Kashmir.
The Anantnag-Rajouri constituency is now set to vote on May 25, and the seat would witness a triangular contest between Mehbooba Mufti, NC's influential Gujar leader Mian Altaf, and Apni Party's Zaffar Manhas, who has tacit support of BJP.

Addressing the people, Omar said the People's Democratic Party's decision to distance itself from PAGD was driven by self-interest rather than any ideological issue.
"There was a method that they did. As far as the PAGD is concerned, the PAGD is intact. The PAGD fought this election together; whether it was the ANC, CPI(M) and the NC, it was only the PDP that moved away," he said.
He further said the fight in the underway elections wasn't between political parties but ideologies. He emphasised that NC was part of an alliance that sought to protect country's secular visage, while as PDP had chosen to side with the BJP.
"Why didn't she (Mehbooba Mufti) actively canvass in favour of the INDIA or the INDIA bloc and against the BJP in places like Udhampur and Jammu. She didn't campaign against the BJP in Udhampur, nor did she campaign in Jammu. So how can she claim to be part of the INDIA bloc? How can she claim to be against the BJP? She is only against the NC; she is not against the BJP."
He further said that the deferment in the elections in Anantnag Rajouri parliamentary seat was undertaken to decrease the foothold of NC and weaken Mian Altaf.
"The scheme has failed to achieve its end. People in the constituency have redyed themselves to give a befitting reply to BJP and its proxies as their counterparts did in central and north Kashmir areas."
He further said that the clock was set for abrogation of Articles 370 35 A when PDP joined hands with BJP.
"Didn't Rajnath Singh say that BJP government will settle the issue of Kashmir once and for all? We asked them how it was possible. It is clear now that PDP was hand in glove with them to bring about the decisions of August 5, 2019. We had warned the PDP of the consequences of joining hands with the BJP, but they turned down our offers. Had they given a thought to our pleas, our state wouldn't have been denuded of its status and degraded to a UT," he said.
UNI MJR AKS