Page 3 - Farooq Abdullah

NC's Omar Abdullah predicts win in J&K polls, says 'we've put a good fight'

Amid speculation over possible permutations and combinations for government formation in Jammu and Kashmir, National Conference vice president Omar Abdullah on Tuesday express hope for positive outcome."Here's wishing all my colleagues and allies the very best of luck for today. We fought the good fight & now, InshaAllah, the results will reflect that." he said.Earlier on Monday, Omar Abdullah said that PDP has not offered support and called for putting end to all speculations till the results are out.He was commenting on his father Farooq Abdullah's remarks that the National Conference-Congress alliance will take support of PDP even if it does not need it as "we have to go ahead together"."They haven't extended support, they haven't offered support and we don't know what the voters have decided yet, so I really wish we could put a lid on all this premature speculation for the next 24 hours," Omar Abdullah said in a post on X.The Election Commission of India said that an overall

EAM Jaishankar visiting Pakistan 'good step', says Farooq Abdullah

National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Monday said External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar visiting Pakistan for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation meeting is a "good step" and hoped that the ties between the two countries will improve. India on Friday announced that Jaishankar will travel to Pakistan to attend a conclave of the SCO. Pakistan is hosting the SCO Council of Heads of Government (CHG) meeting on October 15 and 16. It will be for the first time in nearly nine years that India's external affairs minister will travel to Pakistan even as the ties between the two neighbours remain frosty over the Kashmir issue and cross-border terrorism emanating from Pakistan. "Jaishankar ji is going to Pakistan for an SCO meeting. It's a very good step. I hope both countries think along the lines of friendship," Abdullah told PTI here. The former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister said he would like to remind Jaishankar that former prime minister Atal Behari Vajpayee had once sa

J-K elections: Farooq Abdullah rules out post-poll alliance with BJP

National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah on Saturday asserted that his party would not forge a post-poll alliance with the BJP for government formation in Jammu and Kashmir. "We cannot go with the BJP. The vote which we have got here is the vote against the BJP. The difficulties they put the Muslims in, bulldozed their shops, houses, mosques and schools, do you think we will go with them?" Abdullah told PTI videos here. He said the BJP did not give mandate to even a single Muslim in the Parliamentary election nor is there a single Muslim minister in the Union Cabinet. "I think our people will not vote for the BJP. If they (BJP) think they will form the government, then they live in cuckoo's world," the National Conference (NC) chief added. The NC had on Friday said it was not in touch with any political party other than INDIA bloc constituents for government formation in Jammu and Kashmir. The party's clarification came amid speculation that it was engaged in backchannel

Beware of people sent by Delhi, reject 'devils': Farooq Abdullah to voters

Ahead of the final phase of voting in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly polls, National Conference president Farooq Abdullah urged voters to prioritise their honour and dignity by rejecting candidates whom he described as "devils in disguise" and "sent by Delhi". The third and final phase of the Assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir will be held on October 1. As many as 40 seats -- 24 in the Jammu region and 16 in Kashmir -- will go to polls in this phase. Speaking about the prospects of the National Conference-Congress alliance in the polls, Abdullah exuded confidence that it would secure a majority in the 90-member assembly and emphasised the BJP would not gain power in the Union territory. With the high-pitch campaigning for the last leg of polling set to end on Sunday evening, the NC chief made a passionate appeal to the people, asking them to make a thoughtful decision while casting their votes. He emphasised the importance of voting for a better future and highlighted the need for

Ganderbal prestige battle for Omar Abdullah; faces tough fight from PDP

National Conference vice president Omar Abdullah is facing a battle of prestige in his bid to reclaim the Ganderbal Assembly segment, considered a family bastion that was represented by his grandfather Sheikh Abdullah, father Farooq Abdullah and himself in the past. Having lost the 2024 Lok Sabha polls from the Baramulla constituency, the former chief minister is leaving nothing to chance and has filed his nomination from both Ganderbal and Budgam seats in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly polls. The importance that Abdullah is according to his re-election from Ganderbal, which he represented during his tenure as chief minister, can be gauged from the fact that made a emotional appeal from the people when he filed his nomination. Addressing a workers' meeting at the party office in Ganderbal, the NC vice president took off his cap and held it in his palms urging people to vote for him as his "honour lay in their hands". The former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister's sons, Zahir and Zam

BJP wants to weaken unity, divide India, deceive public: Farooq Abdullah

Earlier, Union Home Minister Amit Shah accused National Conference (NC)-Congress alliance of attempting to destabilise Jammu and Kashmir by seeking release of separatists and terrorist sympathisers

Jammu and Kashmir Assembly polls highlights: 59% turnout in first phase, voting peaceful, says CEO

Jammu and Kashmir Phase 1 election updates: Catch all the latest LIVE Assembly election updates here

Kejriwal 'not hungry for power', 'wants to gain faith of people': Farooq

National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Sunday said Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's announcement of resignation shows he is not hungry for power and wants to go back to people "who will either make or break him". "He wants fresh elections in Delhi so that he goes back to the people and it is the people who will either make or break him," Abdullah told reporters here. The National Conference (NC) president said the charges have not been proved against Kejriwal in the liquor scam and so he wants people to decide. "They have not been able to prove charges on him, that is why he wants to go to public so that the people decide. It is a very good thing that he is not hungry for power, he has left the chair even as there was still time. He wants to gain the faith of the people and it is a huge thing in a democracy," he added. Meanwhile, when asked about many independent candidates contesting the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly polls, Abdullah said it was for the people to deci

Farooq Abdullah hits back at PM, says misleading people against alliance

Former chief minister Farooq Abdullah on Sunday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi was "misleading" the nation by claiming that terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir will rise again if the National Conference-Congress alliance came to power in the Union territory. "I want to ask the PM that their government has been ruling for the past five years since the abrogation of Article 370. They used to say that Article 370 is responsible for terrorism here but today there is no Article 370. Where did this terrorism come from?" the NC leader said. "Where are these guns coming from which are killing civilians and martyring the soldiers. Today, it is not our government. Let him answer this," Abdullah told reporters while campaigning for party candidate Omar Abdullah in Ganderbal assembly segment. His remarks came a day after PM Modi cautioned the people against bringing the NC, Congress and the PDP back to power, alleging their policies had prepared the ground for terrorism, stifled young leadership

BJP trying to 'intimidate' Hindu voters in J-K: NCP prez Farooq Abdullah

National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Sunday said the BJP top brass was focussing its election campaign on Jammu as they want to "intimidate" the Hindu voters of Jammu and Kashmir by creating false fears. He also accused the BJP of misleading the people by claiming that terrorism will rise again if the National Conference and Congress alliance came to power in Jammu and Kashmir. "They (BJP) want to threaten the Hindu community. They think the Hindus will vote for them but today the Hindus have changed. First they (BJP) sought votes in the name of Ram and now they want to intimidate them," Abdullah charged. He was speaking to reporters at Naseembagh mausoleum of National Conference founder Sheikh Muhammad Abdulla after paying tributes to the party founder on his 42nd death anniversary. "They repealed Article 370 (of the Constitution) but did terrorism end? Terrorism is rising again and it is all their responsibility," he said. Abdullah was responding to a question on why

Govts must protect every religion, says NC president Farooq Abdullah

India is known for unity in diversity and governments must protect every religion, National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah said here on Saturday, a day after the Assam Assembly scrapped a two-hour 'namaz' break provided to Muslim legislators on Fridays. Abdullah said nothing is permanent and things will change when the time comes. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had said on Friday that the state assembly would discontinue the two-hour break provided on Fridays to facilitate Muslim legislators to offer 'namaz'. The rule will be implemented from the next session. "This country is known for unity in diversity. We have every religion and every language, be it Tamil Nadu, Kashmir, Bengal or Maharashtra,? any state, every state has a different culture and that is why India is a federal structure and we have to protect every religion. "When the time comes, it will change. Nothing is permanent. Good things will prevail again. We will tell them, let our government come,

J&K polls: Cong, NC join hands; Rahul Gandhi vows to fight for statehood

There is still no clarity whether the Mehbooba Mufti-led People's Democratic Party (PDP) will be part of the Congress-NC alliance

'Have blood ties with J-K': Rahul Gandhi sounds poll bugle in the Valley

In his first visit to Jammu-Kashmir after the announcement of assembly elections, Rahul Gandhi said that restoration of statehood is a priority for both him and his party

Farooq welcomes EC's move to advance J-K polls, hopes central rule to end

National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah on Friday welcomed the Election Commission's decision to advance assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir and hoped that the central rule will end in the Union Territory. According to the dates announced by the EC, starting from September 18, the assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir will be held in three phases. The second phase will be held on September 25 and the third and final phase on October 1. Results for the assembly polls in both Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir will be announced on October 4. "Today, I thank God that they are deciding it. Earlier, people were saying that they would decide it between the 20th and 25th. I am happy that they have preponed it (sic)," Abdullah told PTI here. He further said the country celebrated India's Independence on Thursday, and on Friday they are hopeful of getting rid of the central government's rule in Jammu and Kashmir. Replying to a question about the party's readiness for the elections, he said,

Mile huwe hain: Farooq Abdullah on J-K infiltrations despite army presence

J-K National Conference President Farooq Abdullah has sparked controversy alleging a possible collusion amid the rise in infiltration in Jammu. Someone is responsible who is double-crossing, he said

J-K polls will prove supremacy of security forces over terrorists: Omar

National Conference vice president Omar Abdullah on Thursday said assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir should be held in time to prove the supremacy of security forces over terrorists, who have carried out a spate of attacks in Jammu region recently. Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a party function here, Abdullah said there is no normalcy in the union territory. "There is no normalcy. But, is the situation worse than 1996? If yes, then let them not conduct the elections. If they want to bow down before these powers who are attacking, then don't conduct the election. If you have to prove the supremacy of the militancy, rather than proving the supremacy of our armed forces and police, then don't conduct the elections," he said. The former chief minister of the erstwhile state of J-K, said if the government has courage, then elections should be conducted. "If you don't have the courage, and are afraid, then don't. But, if you have to show the supremacy of our police and .

Opposition in new Lok Sabha will be stronger, says Farooq Abdullah

The days of "dictatorship" are over and the opposition in the new Lok Sabha would be stronger, National Conference president Farooq Abdullah said here on Friday. The former chief minister of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir said people have given their verdict and the Constitution has been saved. "This time there will be a strong opposition. When I was in Parliament, we were weak. Nobody used to listen to us and there was dictatorship, but thank God, dictatorship is over now," Abdullah told reporters here. He was responding to a question about whether the opposition in the new Lok Sabha would be stronger than the last one given their strength has increased. Asked about the NDA forming the government for the third consecutive time, the NC president, who represented Srinagar in the previous Lok Sabha, said, "Let them form the government, then we will see". To a question whether the new NDA government will succeed, the former Union minister said, "Let us wait and see what ..

"Pakistan ne choodiyan nahi pehni...pehna denge": PM Modi takes jibe at Farooq Abdullah

"Pakistan ne choodiyan nahi pehni...pehna denge": PM Modi takes jibe at Farooq Abdullah

LS polls: Three generations of Abdullah family cast vote in J-K's Srinagar

Three generations of the Abdullah family on Monday cast their vote in Jammu and Kashmir's Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency, with National Conference (NC) vice president Omar Abdullah appealing to people to turn out in large numbers to exercise their franchise. NC president and former J-K chief minister Farooq Abdullah, his son Omar Abdullah and his two grandsons and first-time electors Zahir and Zamir? cast their vote at the polling station at the Burn Hall School here. "We have two first-time voters with us. It is for the first time that three generations of our family are voting together," Omar Abdullah, also a former chief minister, said. It is for the first time since 1998 that no member of the Abdullah family is contesting the Lok Sabha elections from Srinagar. The only loss the NC suffered on this seat was in the 2014 general elections. While the BJP, which is in power at the Centre, is not contesting any of the three Lok Sabha seats, including Srinagar, in Kashmir, the party

Modi trying to create fear among Hindus to remain in power: Farooq Abdullah

National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday of trying to create a fear psychosis among Hindus to stay in power and said he no longer talks about the issues of the common people that propelled him to the top post in 2014. The former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister asked people to stay away from "this divide-and-rule politics". Addressing a rally in the Khanyar area of the city here in support of the NC's Lok Sabha poll candidate Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi, Abdullah said, "Modi is trying to create fear among Hindus and to create that fear, he is telling them that your mangalsutras will be taken away and sold to give money to Muslims. Are we such bad people that we will snatch mangalsutras from our mothers and sisters?" The member of Parliament from Srinagar said the prime minister is telling Hindus that if the INDIA opposition bloc comes to power after the ongoing polls, their savings will be taxed and if they have two houses, one