The Kashmir Pulse

SRINAGAR — Sugra Barkati, daughter of jailed Sarjan Ahmad Wagay (Barkati), said on Sunday that she is being subjected to “psychological tactics” by her opponents, especially the National Conference (NC).

Addressing a press conference, Sugra, who emphasized that she is not a politician and only wants her parents released from jail, explained that she has been forced into the public eye “due to compulsion,” with the unusual circumstances placing a heavy burden on her shoulders.

“I have been subjected to psychological tactics, with Omar Abdullah leading the charge when he mentioned my father, saying that people in jail are filing papers against him. Filing the papers was my decision,” she said.

“During the Lok Sabha elections, Omar told Engineer Rashid’s son that if he had known they were running, he wouldn’t have filed his papers,” Sugra explained and added that Omar’s statement was the reason she decided to file papers on behalf of her father, hoping that, if he won, her father might be released from jail.

“One of the NC spokespersons, Ifra Jan, openly called my father a thief; it was like a stab to my chest,” she said. “We are helpless, and we leave it in the hands of people and the Almighty.”

Regarding AIP’s chief, Engineer Sheikh Rashid, Sugra said she had expected AIP to voluntarily give the mandate to her father in Langate. “We were in contact with them since my father’s papers were rejected in Zainapora. We wanted Engineer Rashid to support us because we hardly know anyone from Beerwah and Ganderbal. We thought Langate would make a difference.”

She added that she had been in touch with Engineer Rashid’s brother, Sheikh Khurseed, as well as Inam-un-Nabi, AIP’s spokesperson. “We were assured the matter would be considered, but we never received a response.”

She concluded by questioning, “If it was ‘jail ka badla vote se’ during the Lok Sabha elections, which Engineer Rashid won, then why not now?”

JAMMU — Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday said that there can be no talks with Pakistan until peace becomes a permanent feature in Jammu and Kashmir and that statehood will be restored at an appropriate time after Assembly polls.

“National Conference has advocated talks with Pakistan in its manifesto. Let me make it clear that there can be no talks with Pakistan until peace becomes a permanent feature in J&K,” Shah said while addressing a massive gathering in Jammu, as per the news agency KNO.

He kick-started the election campaign for the BJP and dared Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and National Conference Vice President Omar Abdullah on the Gujjar-Bakerwal and Dalit reservation, stating that “no power can touch this reservation.”

Taking a jibe at the NC-Congress for claiming they will bring back the statehood to J&K, he said, “Perhaps, Rahul Baba and Omar are unaware of my August 5, 2019 speech where I have clarified that statehood will be restored to J&K post polls at an appropriate time.”

In a scathing attack on Rahul and Omar, the Union Home Minister said, “I wonder how they can bring back statehood. Can they clarify? It is the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government that can give back the statehood to J&K.”

He said that it would be the first election in J&K when there is only one flag, one constitution and one Prime Minister. “Prime Minister is always one for the nation. From Kanyakumari to Kashmir, there is only one PM, that is Narendra Modi,” Shah said.

Shah asked the BJP workers to come along with four families early in the morning and finish voting by 11:30 am. Shah asked the workers to take a pledge that they would vote against Abdullahs, Muftis and Gandhis. He also raised the slogan: “Jahan Huway Balidan Mukherji, Wo Kashmiri Hamara hai.”

Shah said that as a politician, the people of Jammu and Kashmir should read the writing on the wall that NC-Congress can never form government in J&K. Lashing out at PDP for advocating cross-LoC trade, Shah said the profit earned out of the trade would directly go into the pockets of “terror mentors.”

Taking a jibe at NC for befooling people in the name of autonomy, Shah said it was because of this slogan that 40,000 people lost their lives in J&K in the past three decades. “Nobody can talk about autonomy now. Gone are those days,” he said.

Shah urged the BJP workers not to vote for NC, Congress and PDP as they want to revive terrorism, separatism and stone pelting in J&K. “These parties want the release of terror mentors and those who spent money to promote stone pelting. Do they deserve votes for this,” Shah asked as workers shouted “No”.

The Union Home Minister said that NC wants to change the name of Shankaracharya Hill to Takhtay Sulaiman. “We will not allow this, come what may,” he said.

He said that it was the NC that forced the then Maharaja of J&K, Hari Singh to flee Kashmir. “Later, what returned to J&K was the body of Hari Singh, who acceded to India in 1947,” he said.

KULGAM — Senior National Conference leader Sakina Itoo on Friday filed her nomination papers for Damhal Hanjipora Assembly seat of southern Kashmir's Kulgam district.

According to the news agency KNO, she was accompanied by former chief minister and National Conference vice president Omar Abdullah. Sakina Itoo is being seen as one of the strongest candidates for the Damhal Hanjipora Assembly seat.

A total of 99,037 eligible voters are registered in the Assembly constituency, which was changed from Noorabad to Damhal Hanjipora after the delimitation exercise. The seat will go to polls in the first phase of the J&K Assembly elections on September 18.

In the 2014 Assembly election, Sakina Itoo lost to PDP candidate Abdul Majeed Padder, who is now with the Jammu Kashmir Apni Party. Besides Abdul Majid Padder, Gulzar Ahmad Dar of PDP and Mohammad Arif Dar of Awami Ittehad Party are also in the fray.

SRINAGAR — National Conference president Dr Farooq Abdullah on Saturday said he will participate in the upcoming Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir.

Addressing a press conference in Jammu, Farooq Abdullah, as per the news agency KNO, said that he will contest the Assembly polls and that once the statehood is restored, he will step down and his son Omar Abdullah will contest from the seat.

He said that the Statehood has been promised by the Central government and all parties are seeking complete restoration at the earliest.

Abdullah, while reacting to the poll schedule, said that it is better as it will expose the readiness of parties for the elections. He said that any decision over pre-poll alliance will be taken by the party after holding threadbare deliberations.

The Election Commission of India on Friday announced three-phase polls, which were long overdue in Jammu and Kashmir, with the first phase being held on September 18, the second phase on September 25 and the third phase on October 1.

The election results will be announced on October 4 along with Haryana Assembly results, which will go to polls on October 1.

SRINAGAR — Omar Abdullah, Vice President of the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference, while being asked by the reporters on Tuesday to give his reaction regarding the budget presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that he hadn't had time to review it due to party commitments. However, he was quick to criticize the Centre over the "worst unemployment" crises facing the UT of Jammu and Kashmir.

Abdullah emphasized the severe challenges facing Jammu and Kashmir, particularly the escalating unemployment crisis, which he described as the worst in the country. "I hope to see provisions in the budget addressing the plight of unemployed youth in Jammu and Kashmir," he said.

He also highlighted the Valley's ongoing problems with water and electricity shortages, calling for these problems to be addressed in the Finance Minister's budget speech. Abdullah assured that his party's two Members of Parliament would raise these critical issues if these were overlooked.

Commenting on the Supreme Court's order concerning the Kanwar Yatra, Abdullah criticized the directive of Uttar Pradesh Police in Muzaffarnagar to shop owners to display their names outside shops during the Kanwar Yatra. He stated that such an order should never have existed in the first place.

Condemning the directive of displaying shopkeepers' names along the Yatra route, he argued it marginalizes Muslim shopkeepers in states like Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttarakhand.

Drawing a stark contrast, Abdullah pointed out the integral role of Muslims in supporting the Amarnath Yatra in Kashmir and added that Muslims carry Amarnath pilgrims on their shoulders to get a glimpse of the Shiva Lingam. He accused the BJP of sparking religious controversies and victimizing minorities, especially Muslims.

The Uttar Pradesh government on July 19 had made it mandatory for food and beverage shops along Kanwar Yatra routes to display the name and identity of the operator or owner of their establishments. Similar directives had been issued in other states including Madhya Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

However, the Supreme Court on Monday stayed the direction issued by authorities, saying in its order that they (shopkeepers/vendors) must not be forced to display the name/identity of the owners and also the employees, deployed in their respective establishments.

SRINAGAR — Given the militant attacks happening in the Jammu region, former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said that there is an urgent need to fix the responsibility.

“Hardly any area in Jammu is free from militancy. Attacks are taking place in Chenab Valley, Pir Panjal, Rajouri, Doda and Kathua. Every time the government says militancy is at its lowest ebb, attacks take place. The unfortunate part is that the government has not taken any measures to tackle militancy in Jammu,” Omar Abdullah said while talking to reporters in Kashmir's capital Srinagar.

In response to a question, he said DG Police lectured on politics which is not his domain. “Let him (DGP) tackle the militancy and establish the peace and leave the job of politics on politicians,” he said.

Omar Abdullah, as per the news agency KNT, said that in every UT people are being deprived of power and representation. “UT model has miserably failed in Jammu and Kashmir. It has failed in tackling militancy. It has failed in Jammu and it has failed in development. It will be better to restore statehood and conduct elections so that people can have their own elected government,” he said.

In response to a question, Omar Abdullah lamented the random arrests of mourners during processions. “It should not have happened. I don’t know why they (the government) find it easy to target Muslims and arrest them,” he said.

SRINAGAR — The political turf in Jammu and Kashmir is witnessing a surge of tension following the victory of Engineer Rashid in the Baramulla constituency. National Conference Vice President Omar Abdullah's remarks about the election outcome have sparked a heated debate, with People's Democratic Party (PDP) leader Waheed-Ur-Rehman Para strongly criticizing Abdullah's stance.

Omar Abdullah, as per the news agency KNO, expressed concern on Thursday that Engineer Rashid's triumph could strengthen separatist ideology and reinvigorate the Islamic movement in Kashmir.

"Rashid's victory will, without any doubt, empower the separatists and give a ray of hope to the defeated Islamic movement in Kashmir," Omar stated on Twitter. He linked this outcome to the broader political strategy of integrating separatists into mainstream politics, a move, as per him, that has historically backfired.

Engineer Rashid, also known as Abdul Rashid Sheikh, is currently incarcerated on militancy funding charges. Despite his imprisonment, he secured the Baramulla seat with a margin of over 200,000 votes, defeating prominent figures including Omar Abdullah and Sajjad Lone. Rashid garnered a total of 472,481 votes.

In response to Omar's comments, Waheed Para of the PDP voiced his disappointment, accusing Abdullah of refusing to accept the democratic mandate.

"I am extremely disappointed by Omar Abdullah's regressive stance, which is reminiscent of the divisive politics of 1987 and labelling democratic expression as 'Islamic wave'. His (Omar's) family's history with the Muslim Conference has been to oust PDP, Engineer Rashid, and JeI (Jamaat-e-Islami). Also, it has been increasing the conflict between Kashmir and the Centre," Para stated.

Para further argued that a more prudent approach, similar to Mehbooba Mufti's appeal for Rashid's release, would have been more appropriate.

Mehbooba Mufti, former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir and PDP chief, congratulated Engineer Rashid and called for his release.

"Hearty congratulations to Mian Altaf, Agha Ruhullah, Engineer Rashid, and Hanifa Jaan for winning the Parliament elections. The Indian government should respect the people's decision and release Engineer Rashid," Mufti posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.

SRINAGAR — The Lok Sabha election results in Kashmir have sprung a few surprises as former chief ministers Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti were humbled at the hustings by lesser-known candidates.

While Mufti lost to Gujjar leader and National Conference candidate Mian Altaf Ahmad by a huge margin in the Anantnag-Rajouri seat, Abdullah was defeated by former MLA and militancy financing accused Sheikh Abdul Rashid alias Engineer Rashid in Baramulla.

Also to fall by the wayside was People’s Conference president Sajjad Gani Lone in the Baramulla seat in northern Kashmir.

Rashid, a 56-year-old former MLA from the Langate assembly segment in Kupwara district, was arrested in 2019 and charged by the NIA under UAPA. He was the first mainstream politician to be booked under the anti-terror law. His campaign was run by his son Abrar, who thanked people for their “love and support”.

“I am thankful to people who not only supported our campaign but showered their love and converted it into votes as well. Winning or losing doesn’t matter much to us. What matters to me is the love we got from the people,” Abrar told reporters after his father took a substantial lead.

Abdullah conceded defeat and congratulated Rashid on his victory. “I think it’s time to accept the inevitable. Congratulations to Engineer Rashid for his victory in North Kashmir,” Abdullah said in a post on ‘X’.

He said voters have spoken and in a democracy, that is all that matters. “I don’t believe his victory will hasten his release from prison nor will the people of North Kashmir get the representation they have a right to but the voters have spoken and in a democracy that’s all that matters,” Abdullah said.

Lone also conceded defeat and congratulated Rashid. “With all humility at my command I accept defeat. And it is time to congratulate Engineer Rashid. I wanted to make a difference. I thought we should be empowered economically, socially and politically to be able to make a difference and be counted. We had suffered a lot in the past 30 yrs and been robbed of all our dignity. The people’s mandate is supreme. I accept the people’s mandate with all humility,” Lone posted on ‘X’.

Another key player in Jammu and Kashmir politics, Mehbooba Mufti said winning and losing are part of the game.

“Respecting the verdict of the people I thank my PDP workers & leaders for their hard work & support despite all the odds. My deepest gratitude to the people who voted for me. Winning & losing is part of the game & won’t deter us from our path,” she posted on X.

Her daughter Iltija Mufti said she accepted the “verdict of the people” and thanked the PDP workers and voters.

“We accept the verdict of the people. My deepest gratitude to PDP workers & leaders for their hard work & the people who voted for Mehbooba ji. Our journey of rebuilding PDP has only begun & Inshallah we will fulfil Mufti sahab’s vision. And Mum I love you & will always have your back,” she posted on ‘X’.

In the prestigious Srinagar Lok Sabha seat, National Conference leader Aga Roohullah Mehdi defeated rival candidate and PDP youth president Waheed Para.

“I thank the people for the mandate. I want to tell them that their mandate will be respected and they will be represented in Parliament in the way for which they have given their mandate,” Roohullah told reporters at the counting centre here.

The influential Shia leader congratulated Engineer Rashid on his victory.

“I also wanted to congratulate Omar Abdullah, but as per the trend, it seems the people have decided otherwise. I hope that they get what they voted for, the release of Engineer sahab. I want to congratulate Engineer Rashid and his family and respect this mandate,” he said.

Roohullah said he will raise the abrogation of Article 370 in Parliament.

“I will raise the issue of what was snatched from us and that we do not accept the decisions taken on August 5, 2019. I will vociferously take their voice to Parliament and seek its restoration. This mandate increases my responsibility,” he added.

Para said people of Kashmir have spoken for the first time in years.

Apni Party founder Altaf Bukhari said the results in Kashmir have signalled an end to dynastic rule here.

“The people of Jammu and Kashmir have spoken, and their verdict is clear. With grace and humility, we accept the outcome of the election. The rejection of dynastic politics and the defeat of the former two chief ministers of J&K is a resounding message, and we acknowledge the desire for change,” Bukhari said.

He said his party will use this opportunity to introspect, learn from its mistakes and emerge stronger and more resilient.

“We respect the democratic process and the will of the people, and we look forward to a fresh start. May this new chapter bring prosperity, peace and progress to Jammu and Kashmir,” he added.

SRINAGAR — National Conference (NC) Vice President Omar Abdullah and PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti conceded defeat on Tuesday from their respective Lok Sabha seats even as counting of votes was still underway.

According to the ECI data for the Baramulla Lok Sabha seat, jailed former MLA Sheikh Abdul Rashid was leading against former chief minister Abdullah by a margin of more than 1.25 lakh votes.

“I think it’s time to accept the inevitable. Congratulations to Engineer Rashid for his victory in North Kashmir,” Abdullah said in a post on X at 1:37 pm. He said the voters have spoken and in a democracy that is all that matters.

“I don’t believe his victory will hasten his release from prison nor will the people of North Kashmir get the representation they have a right to but the voters have spoken and in a democracy that’s all that matters,” Abdullah said.

Former chief minister Mufti also conceded defeat from the Anantnag-Rajouri Lok Sabha seat.

“Respecting the verdict of the people, I thank my PDP workers & leaders for their hard work & support despite all the odds. My deepest gratitude to the people who voted for me. Winning & losing is part of the game & won't deter us from our path,” Mufti posted on X at 1:58 pm.

National Conference Gujjar leader Mian Altaf is leading from the seat by over 2.29 lakh votes, according to the latest EC figures.

Abdullah also congratulated his party colleagues Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi and Mian Altaf who are leading by huge margins from Srinagar and Anantnag-Rajouri Lok Sabha seats respectively.

“To my @JKNC_ colleagues @RuhullahMehdi & Mian Altaf Sb my heartfelt congratulations. I’m sorry I won’t be joining them in the Lok Sabha but I’m sure both of them will do an amazing job representing the people of J&K,” Abdullah said in his post.

SRINAGAR — In the early hours of vote counting for the Lok Sabha elections, Abdul Rashid Sheikh, an independent candidate who is popularly known as Engineer Rashid, has taken a significant lead in the Baramulla constituency, while the National Conference (JKNC) is ahead in both the Srinagar and Anantnag-Rajouri seats, according to the latest data of Election Commission available at 11:10 am.

In the Baramulla seat, Er Rashid is leading with 101,701 votes, outpacing JKNC vice-president Omar Abdullah, who trails with 53,820 votes, and Sajjad Gani Lone of the Jammu & Kashmir People’s Conference, who has 42,428 votes.

In the Srinagar constituency, JKNC's Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi is leading with 105,994 votes. He holds a substantial margin over Waheed-Ur-Rehman Para of the JKPDP, who has garnered 46,069 votes, and Mohammad Ashraf Mir of the JKAP, who is trailing with 22,327 votes.

The Anantnag-Rajouri seat shows a strong lead for JKNC’s Mian Altaf Ahmad with 203,795 votes, far ahead of JKPDP president Mehbooba Mufti, who has received 90,508 votes. Zafar Iqbal Khan Manhas of JKAP trails significantly with 43,522 votes.

These early trends indicate a strong performance for the National Conference in the Kashmir Division, while independent candidate Abdul Rashid Sheikh's lead in Baramulla is a notable development in the ongoing elections.

SRINAGAR — As the counting of votes for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls is underway, the National Conference (NC) and Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) are ahead in two seats each in Jammu and Kashmir, according to early result trends.

According to data released by the Chief Election Officer J&K, the NC is leading in Srinagar and Anantnag-Rajouri seats, while the BJP is leading in Jammu and Udhampur seats.

The data shows that independent candidate Er Rashid is leading in the Baramulla constituency against National Conference vice-president Omar Abdullah, while People’s Conference chairman Sajjad Lone is in the third spot.

Main Altaf of NC is leading against People’s Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti in Anantnag-Rajouri, while NC’s Aga Ruhullah is leading against PDP’s Waheed Para.

Union minister Dr Jitendra Singh is leading against Congress’ Choudhary Lal Singh in Jammu, while Jugal Kishar of BJP is leading against Raman Bhalla of Congress in Jammu constituency.

SRINAGAR — Two former chief ministers of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir — Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti — are trailing in their constituencies in the first hour of counting on Tuesday, according to the Election Commission.

Abdullah contested the polls from the Baramulla Lok Sabha constituency, while Mehbooba from the Anantnag-Rajouri seat.

Abdullah, the vice president of the National Conference (NC), is trailing by over 2,600 votes in the first hour of counting against his nearest rival and independent candidate Sheikh Abdul Rashid.

The NC leader is locked in a virtual triangular contest for the Baramulla Lok Sabha seat with separatist-turned-mainstream politician Sajjad Gani Lone and Rashid alias Engineer Rashid, a former MLA currently lodged in Tihar jail in a UAPA case.

Mehbooba, the president of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), who is up against prominent Gujjar and NC leader Mian Altaf Ahmad in Anantnag-Rajouri seat, is trailing by over 26,000 votes.

On the third seat in the Kashmir valley — the Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency — NC’s Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi is leading over his nearest rival, PDP’s Waheed Para — by over 3,300 votes.