‘Apni Party’s support to Omar Abdullah in Budgam cleared my confusion’
Tauseef Ahmad
BANDIPORA, Sep 23: Usman Majid, former Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) from Bandipora and former Minister of State, expressed his views on Monday regarding the National Conference (NC) and its political alliances, specifically accusing the party of forming covert alliances with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He stated that such alliances are nothing new, and alleged that parties like the NC would do anything to stay in power.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with Kashmir Despatch, Majid sharply criticized the National Conference, emphasizing that their long-standing promise of restoring Article 370, which granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir, would never materialize. He accused the NC of failing to fulfill any significant promises from their previous manifestos, suggesting that their rhetoric was simply a ploy to mislead the public.
Highlighting recent political developments, Majid pointed out the support extended to NC leader Omar Abdullah in Budgam by a candidate from the Apni Party. He claimed that this instance further confirmed the suspicions he had about the NC’s ties with the BJP. “The support that Omar received from the Apni Party candidate in Budgam has only clarified my confusion. It is now evident that the NC and the Apni Party are aligned with the BJP, and this proves that my decision to leave the Apni Party was the right one,” Majid asserted.
Majid went on to accuse Kashmiri political parties of continuing to deceive the public by making false promises. He urged them to come to terms with their alliances with the BJP, stating that the facade they maintain for the public is increasingly becoming transparent.
Referring to the Congress Party’s position on Article 370, Majid said, “Congress supported the abrogation of Article 370 in Parliament when the bill was presented. Now the NC claims that they will bring it back, but that makes no sense, because Congress will never support such a move.”
The former minister also commented on the influx of new candidates into the Congress Party just days before nominations were to be submitted. He suggested that the sudden entry of these candidates had demoralized the workers and supporters of both Congress and the National Conference in Bandipora. According to Majid, the party cadres are now feeling disillusioned and may not be able to convert these late entrants into a reliable vote bank for the upcoming elections.
Despite the current political landscape, Majid expressed hope that the people of Bandipora would make informed decisions in choosing their candidates. He remains optimistic about his chances in the elections and voiced confidence in retaining power for a third consecutive term.
Majid’s remarks reflect growing tensions within Kashmir’s political scene as parties scramble to position themselves ahead of the elections, with alliances and political strategies being carefully scrutinized by both rivals and the public.
