Sajjad Lone's wife adds colour to election campaign

As this highly militarised constituency in north Kashmir’s frontier district of Kupwara  gears up for polls on Tuesday,  Peoples Conference (PC) chief Sajjad Lone’s Pakistani- origin wife Asma’s decision to canvass for her husband has lent a new colour to the elections.

Asma, who is daughter of Pakistan-based chief of pro-independence Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front Amanullah Khan, is seen persuading  women of the constituency to vote for her husband. 

While Lone’s political opponents criticise him for meeting Prime Minister Naredra Modi recently, Asma leaves no stone unturned to defend her husband. While going door-to-door for votes, she convinces the voters by saying: “What is wrong in seeking assistance as a Kashmiri for the betterment of Kashmir without overstepping the larger sentiment of its people? It’s about time Kashmir sieved the reality from the contrived, self-interest from self-defeat, however dark and painful it may initially seem.”

However, for the PC workers, especially women, there couldn’t have been any better news than Asma campaigning  for her husband. “Though we are favorites to win Handwara constituency, Asma decision to come here for campaigning has rejuvenated us,” says Saja Begum, an old time PC supporter.

The PC General Secretary Rashid Mehmood says there is nothing new in women campaigning for their family members. “For women voters, interacting with a woman is easy. Women voters easily share their problems and difficulties with her (Asma),” he told Deccan Herald.

Asked to comment on Asma campaigning in the backdrop of her separatist father’s election boycott call, he said, “This issue is being raised by the political opponents who fear defeat. In political families, women play equal role. What is new in it?

When (PDP patron) Mufti Mohammad Sayeed contested elections in 90’s, he fielded his daughter (Mehbooba) and wife also. Wife of National Conference  founder (late) Begum Akbar Jehan was a Parliament member.”