Omar Abdullah

Omar blames Centre for low voter turnout in 2nd phase of J-K Assembly polls

National Conference leader Omar Abdullah on Thursday said the low voter turnout in Srinagar district during the second phase of voting for Jammu and Kashmir assembly polls was perhaps a people's reaction to the Centre trying to project normalcy in the union territory. His remarks came after the second phase of polling on Wednesday saw a voter turnout of over 56 per cent while the first phase held on September 18 saw an estimated 61.38 per cent voter turnout. "To be honest, I was expecting higher turnout because there was no boycott call, there were attacks, there were no threats or intimidation of the voters. I feel the Centre is also responsible for this. They tried to present the high voter turnout as signs of normalcy and as if the people had accepted the revocation of Article 370. Maybe this was a reaction from Srinagar because people of Srinagar do not want to send wrong signals," Abdullah told reporters in Uri border town of Baramulla district. The former chief minister, who i

Update J&K polls: Second phase of Assembly polls records turnout of 56.05%, says polling official

J&K Phase-2 elections live updates: Catch all the latest J&K election updates here

'Guided tour not good': Omar slams govt for inviting diplomats to see polls

National Conference (NC) vice president Omar Abdullah Wednesday lashed out at the Centre's move to invite foreign delegates to observe the ongoing assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir, saying the polls were an internal matter of India. "I don't know why foreigners should be asked to check elections here. When foreign governments comment, then the government of India says 'this is an internal matter for India' and now suddenly they want foreign observers to come and look at our elections," Abdullah told reporters here. He said the assembly elections in J-K "are an internal matter for us", and "we do not need their certificate". "Also, this participation (of people in polls) is not because of the government of India, it is inspite of everything that the government of India did. They have humiliated people, they have used all the machinery of the government to detain and harass people. "Inspite of that, people are coming and participating in the elections. So, this is not something

J-K polls: Omar, Ravinder Raina among 239 candidates in fray in 2nd phase

Over 2.5 million voters will decide the fate of 239 candidates in the fray for 26 Jammu and Kashmir assembly seats in the second phase of the election to be held in the Union territory on Wednesday. These assembly constituencies are spread over six districts three in the Valley and as many in the Jammu division. "To facilitate smooth and hassle-free electoral participation, the Election Commission of India has established 3,502 polling stations in these segments. There are 1,056 urban polling stations and 2,446 rural polling stations," an official said. All polling stations will have webcasting facilities as part of the Election Commission's efforts to ensure transparency, according to officials. "To enhance voter participation, 157 special polling stations have been established for the second phase 26 'pink polling stations' managed by women, 26 polling stations manned by specially abled persons, 26 polling stations manned by youths, 31 border polling stations, 26 green polling

J-K polls: Engineer Rashid claims Omar, Sajad ganged up to defeat his party

Lok Sabha MP Sheikh Abdul Rashid on Monday alleged that National Conference leader Omar Abdullah and People's Conference chief Sajad Gani Lone had ganged up in a bid to defeat his Awami Ittehad Party candidates. The maverick politician, popularly known as Engineer Rashid, defeated both Abdullah and Lone in the Lok Sabha elections from Baramulla earlier this year. "Just a few days ago, Omar sahib was branding everyone, including Sajad Lone and Altaf Bukhari's Apni Party, as the BJP's B teams. I have irrefutable evidence that Omar Abdullah and Sajad Lone have ganged up to defeat Engineer Rashid in north Kashmir and elsewhere. Can Omar Abdullah now tell us which is the BJP's B team?" Rashid told PTI. He also claimed the Farooq Abdullah-led party's silence over BJP leader Tarun Chugh's claims against National Conference leaders lent credence to his claim. "Tarun Chugh openly told Farooq Abdullah that if they revealed who all meet BJP leaders in secret, the political careers of many wou

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

J-K polls: Apni Party issues notice to leader for supporting Omar Abdullah

The Apni Party on Saturday ordered its chief spokesperson Muntazir Mohiuddin to show cause after he announced support for National Conference vice-president Omar Abdullah in the Budgam assembly segment. Mohiuddin has been asked to clarify his remarks before the party leadership within 48 hours, "failing which disciplinary action will be taken". "The Apni Party issued a show cause notice to its chief spokesperson Muntazir Mohiuddin for his purported remarks supporting Omar Abdullah," it said in a statement. Mohiuddin has announced his support for Abdullah, who is contesting the assembly polls from Budgam. The former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister is also contesting from the Ganderbal seat. Mohiuddin on Friday said the people of Jammu and Kashmir had been stripped of their rights and added that it was crucial to elect a leader who could fight for their interests. He had earlier withdrawn his nomination from the Budgam constituency. "After consulting with friends and well-wishers

J&K Assembly polls: 'Haven't forgotten what happened with J&K on August 5,' says Omar Abdullah

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

Mehbooba Mufti has only brought destruction to J&K: Omar Abdullah

National Conference (NC) vice president Omar Abdullah Sunday hit out at People's Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti, saying she has brought nothing but destruction to Jammu and Kashmir. On Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal's announcement of resignation, the NC leader said it remains to be seen what will be his next steps. "Mehbooba Mufti has brought nothing but destruction to Jammu and Kashmir. If anyone has played the biggest role in bringing BJP (in J&K) then it is PDP and its leadership," Abdullah told reporters in Anantnag district of south Kashmir. Referring to the violent street protests after the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani in 2016 that left over 90 civilians dead, Abdullah said Mufti should give an account of 2016 before pointing fingers at him. "She talked about milk and toffee...she has not yet apologised for that. She has not yet apologised for bringing the BJP here. She has not apologised for pushing Jammu and Kashmir towards this ...

Focus on deteriorating security condition in J&K: Omar to PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi should focus on the "deteriorating" security situation in Jammu and Kashmir instead of raising the bogey of dynastic politics, National Conference vice president Omar Abdullah said on Saturday. Addressing an election rally in the Doda district in support of BJP candidates earlier in the day, Modi said political dynasties in Jammu and Kashmir have destroyed the region and not allowed new leadership to grow. Hitting back at Modi, the NC leader said the BJP has no qualms in forming alliances with these parties and questioned the prime minister's silence over the death of two army soldiers in an encounter in Kishtawar. "The PM made a speech in Doda... It has not been 24 hours since the attack (in Kishtwar) in which two brave army soldiers lost their lives while an encounter is going on in north Kashmir "He talks about dynasties to mislead people. He should have talked about the present situation," Abdullah told reporters in south Kashmir's Kulgam district.

J&K elections: Omar, Karra, Raina among 239 candidates in fray for phase 2

A total of 239 candidates are in the fray from the 26 constituencies going to polls in the second phase of the three-phase Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections as 27 nominations were withdrawn on Monday. Monday was the last day of the withdrawal of nomination papers for the second phase covering assembly segments spread across central Kashmir districts of Budgam, Srinagar and Ganderbal, and Poonch and Rajouri districts in Jammu region. Prominent among those in the fray for these seats are National Conference leader Omar Abdullah who is contesting from two seats, Pradesh Congress Committee chief Tariq Hamid Karra, Jammu and Kashmir BJP president Ravinder Raina and jailed separatist leader Sarjan Ahmad Wagay alias Barkati. According to a statement issued by the office of chief electoral officer, J&K, 27 candidates withdrew their candidature in the office of respective returning officers across six districts, leaving 239 candidates in the poll fray. The highest nine candidates ...

Watch: Omar Abdullah makes emotional appeal to voters to elect him, removes cap

Omar Abdullah accuses BJP-led govt of fielding independents to silence him

National Conference leader Omar Abdullah on Friday claimed that the BJP-ruled Centre was fielding independent candidates against him in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly elections in a bid to silence him. "I always knew that Delhi would want to silence me in some way but I never thought that they would go to this extent. In Baramulla (Lok sabha elections), when a person (Sheikh Abdul Rashid) stood against me in the polls, having filed the papers while in jail, he recorded his message from jail and sought votes based on emotions. He defeated me in the elections," he said. "I did not see it as something worrisome," Abdullah told election rallies in the Ganderbal Assembly segment from where is contesting the polls. The former chief minister said after the results of Baramulla Lok Sabha seat, he thought luck was on Rashid's side and "it was my bad luck". "But when I decided to contest (assembly) polls from Ganderbal, reports started pouring in that another citizen (Sarjan Ahm

INDIA bloc will ensure restoration of statehood in J-K, says Rahul Gandhi

J&K Assembly elections 2024: Rahul Gandhi said if the Congress party is elected, the INDIA bloc will ensure the restoration of statehood to J-K

IC814 row: Netflix India revises disclaimer to show real names of hijackers

Disclaimer for 'IC814: The Kandahar Hijack' was revised after the vice president of content at Netflix India met the information and broadcasting secretary

NC to prioritise lifting of Afspa if voted to power in J&K: Omar Abdullah

The National Conference will prioritise the lifting of AFSPA from Jammu and Kashmir and put an end to the "unjust harassment faced by Kashmiri youth" if it is voted to power, party vice-president Omar Abdullah said on Saturday. Abdullah had pitched for the revocation of the controversial Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) in 2012 when he was chief minister of the erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir state. He had even announced that AFSPA would be revoked during his tenure but the proposal faced strong opposition from the Army. "The party (National Conference) reiterates its unwavering dedication to fulfilling the promises outlined in our manifesto. Once in power, the National Conference-led government will prioritise the lifting of AFSPA, putting an end to the unjust harassment faced by our youth," Abdullah said as he welcomed prominent political activists into the party. The National Conference leader said his party was committed to streamlining the passport verification process, .

J&K polls: Omar Abdullah to contest elections from Ganderbal constituency

Omar represented Ganderbal from 2009 to 2014 when he was the chief minister (CM) of the NC-Congress coalition government

Seat-sharing with Congress to take on BJP as consolidated front: Omar

National Conference leaders Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah on Tuesday said the seat-sharing arrangement with the Congress was done with the aim of taking on the BJP as a consolidated front, and form a government which will try to address problems of the people. A day after the National Conference and the Congress agreed to contest 51 and 32 seats respectively for the assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir, NC president Farooq Abdullah said in a coalition, the constituents have to accommodate each other. "In a coalition, one has to bear several things. You have to leave some (seats) to gain some (seats). We believe that the final decision taken by the coalition was a very good one. God willing, the coalition will be successful and will form the government here which will try to address the problems faced by the people," he told reporters in Awantipora area of Pulwama district. "If our objectives are good, we will succeed," the senior Abdullah, who was accompanying National Conference

Don't field candidates against NC-Cong in J&K polls: Omar Abdullah to PDP

NC vice president Omar Abdullah on Sunday claimed the PDP has copied his party's manifesto and asked the Mehbooba Mufti-led party to not field candidates against NC-Congress nominees for the betterment of Jammu and Kashmir as their agenda is the same. Abdullah's remarks came a day after Mehbooba said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would extend complete support to the Congress-National Conference (NC) alliance and leave all seats in the elections for the coalition if it accepts her party's agenda. The former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister was addressing NC workers in central Kashmir's Ganderbal district, where activist Sayim Mustafa joined the party. Abdullah said the NC has prepared an extensive manifesto for the assembly polls which has been copied by other parties. "We have not left out anything in the manifesto. Today, everyone has copied our manifesto. They should have kept some differences," he said, referring to the PDP's manifesto which was released by Mehbooba on ...