BJP, Congress, PDP imposed polls on flood-ravaged Kashmir: Omar

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Sunday blamed his rivals in the Bharatiya Janata Party, Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party for "imposed elections on the people of Jammu and Kashmir whose lives had been devastated by unprecedented floods".

Addressing National Conference election rallies in Poonch, Mendhar and Surankote constituencies in Poonch district, he said: "PDP, Congress, BJP and other power-thirsty parties imposed elections on the people of Jammu and Kashmir who were suffering from flood devastation and had lost their economy, crops, property, residential houses and other belongings in the floods".

He alleged the PDP had become "a property developer party in which all turncoats, corruption tainted persons and unscrupulous elements have camped in to make fortunes at the cost of the interests of people of Jammu and Kashmir.

"You have witnessed the fielding of corruption tainted candidates and people with stigmatized profile by the PDP in the assembly elections which speaks volumes about the credentials of PDP and its leadership.

"In fact, these parties wanted their political rehabilitation at first rather than the rehabilitation of the flood sufferers." Abdullah said the NC had no choice but to accept the elections.

"We are prepared to face the elections and fight on our high profile performance and firm agenda for peace, political stability and inclusive development of the state," he said, adding the NC only relies on the support of common people it enjoyed since its inception.

Abdullah criticized Congress leadership for making "reckless, false and irresponsible statements" to belittle the NC's image and popularity.

"I have not compelled you (Congress) to forge alliance with us and accept me the chief minister of the state for six years," he said referring to his party's six-year long alliance with the Congress since 2008 during which Omar has been chief minister at the head of a coalition government.

Rejecting BJP allegations against him, he said: "The pretended Kashmir friendly intentions of BJP are a mirage."

He said the NC stands for peaceful, modern and economically self-reliant Jammu and Kashmir and would continue its strive for achieving this goal as he appealed to people to vote for his party's candidates in Poonch, Mendhar and Surankote constituencies where polling is scheduled to be held Tuesday. Campaigning ended in 18 constituencies Sunday evening.