Allowing non-locals to vote in IIOJK will be disastrous: Farooq Abdullah

In Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, National Conference President Farooq Abdullah on Monday said allowing non-locals to vote in the territory will be disastrous.

Farooq Abdullah was addressing a one-day workers convention at Chitragam in Shopian. He was accompanied by Party’s Vice President Omar Abdullah, Additional General Secretary Dr Sheikh Mustafa Kamal, Provincial President Nasir Aslam Wani, MP Hasnain Masoodi.

He said the powers that are pitted against NC are so insecure about support from genuine voters of Jammu and Kashmir that it has to import temporary voters to win seats. “None of these things will help them when the people of Kashmir are given a chance to exercise their franchise. It is for the permanent residents of Jammu and Kashmir not to allow them succeed in their nefarious designs. It is for you to stop them from achieving that end. No one else can. If people come out and register as voters and subsequently vote in huge numbers, there is nothing that can touch our unique identity. But if all of us chose to stay in our homes, there is nothing that can save us. Therefore, this time the elections are not just about having elected governments, forming ministries. It is all about protecting our identity and dignity. We have to send such representatives to the legislature, who would not trade-off people’s dignity, and honour,” he added.