Farooq Abdullah demands Governor’s Rule in J&K

Could he be the one to have won a Lok Sabha seat with the lowest percentage of votes? Farooq Abdullah, who was declared the winner after securing less than 4% of the votes polled (Only 7.13% of the votes were cast in any case), remained unfazed.

“How does it matter? We have seen polls before also where there have hardly been any (voter turnout) percentage.... What do you say to the people who voted despite all the pressure and threats,” President of National Conference said, dismissing the reports that he may resign from his seat after eight youths lost their lives during violent protests against the conduct of elections in Srinagar.

“Neither have I said such things nor shall I do something like that…it’s for party high command to decide…whatever decision it takes, I’ll follow that.”

Soon after winning Srinagar by-poll, he blamed the current coalition government of having failed to provide a safe atmosphere for conduct of by-election, demanding that the by-election in Anantnag parliamentary constituency should be held under Governor’s rule.

He thanked the people who participated in by-polls, appreciating how they risked their lives despite all the threats to exercise their right to franchise.

“I request Government of India and President to dismiss present (state coalition) government right away,” he said, adding that poll results show that people are in favour of his party.

Commenting on the incident wherein a youth was tied to the bonnet of a moving Army vehicle, he said: “It was outright shameful and worst step taken for democracy. I’d request the government to desist from such steps which stoke-up fire here. Otherwise, it will become difficult to control the flare-up.”

“With Allah’s grace, I’m soon going to bring all the stakeholders—Hurriyat included- on board to reach a consensus, which will be presented to the Centre for the welfare of people at large. We’ll also try to ensure that dialogue between India and Pakistan begins as there is no other way out. Wars can’t give any solution. Four wars between India and Pakistan haven’t changed anything; boundaries stand exactly there where they had been before.”