Jammu and Kashmir Elections 2024: In the run-up to Jammu and Kashmir Assembly polls, National Conference (NC) Vice President Omar Abdullah is once again put on edge by a jailed separatist leader, who will be contesting against him from the Ganderbal constituency. Just a few months back, the former J&K Chief Minister had to taste defeat during parliamentary polls after he lost against Sheikh Rashid, also known as Engineer Rashid, from Baramulla Lok Sabha seat. Rashid contested and won the Lok Sabha Election 2024 from Tihar Jail.
Now in the upcoming Jammu and Kashmir Assembly election, Radical jailed separatist leader Sarjan Ahmad Wagay is set to take on Abdullah from the Ganderbal constituency. Hailing from Shopian’s Zainapora area, Wagay is reportedly in a Kashmir jail on charges of terror funding and promoting secession. The Election Commission of India has accepted his nomination papers from two assembly constituencies - Ganderbal and Beerwah.
Reacting to the development, Abdullah on Friday alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is supporting the candidature of the jailed separatist against him so that he would be defeated in assembly elections.
"This is a strange election. I knew that the leaders in Delhi never liked me. But now I have realised that they hate me...I don't understand how those behind bars file nominations only against me," Abdullah said, according to news agency ANI.
The former Chief Minister claimed that now he even sees a conspiracy in Engineer Rashid's Lok Sabha victory from the Baramulla parliament seat. "When I contested the election from the Baramulla constituency, a candidate who was behind bars filed the nomination against me. He recorded an audio clip and circulated it... Maybe it was my bad luck that I was defeated by him. I did not see any conspiracy in it. However, for the last two days, it seems like a conspiracy to me," he said.
"Some agencies felt that I may also contest from Beerwah, where I won the last time. He (Barkati) was first asked to file from Ganderbal and then from Beerwah. I circumvented them and filed from Budgam instead of Beerwa" a NDTV report quoted the NC leader as saying.
Wagay, also known as Sarjan Barkati, was reportedly the face of 2016 violent agitations in Kashmir following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani. Wagay was first arrested in 2016. Later a case was filed against him under the Public Safety Act. The separatist cleric was again arrested last year and is facing charges under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). His wife is also in jail and is facing terror funding charges.