At a time when Mehbooba Mufti is claiming that PAGD was formed solely to safeguard the identity of people of J&K and there is a bigger cause to fight for than bicker over DDC elections, her counterpart in National Conference Omar Abdullah allegedly managed to deprive PDP District President for Beerwah Nazir Khan to contest DDC elections on PAGD ticket.
Much embarrassment to the PAGD, District President Beerwah for PDP, Nazir Khan filed his nomination papers at DIET Beerwah as an independent candidate on Monday.
“Omar Abdullah played politics and without informing Farooq Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti nominated NC candidate who has no ground in Beerwah, just to weaken my position,” Nazir Khan told News Agency Kashmir News Trust.
Nazir Khan now became the 2nd Independent candidate after Akhtar Ali from Hayatpora Beerwah who is also in the fray. Besides Khan and Ali, there is PAGD’s NC candidate Muhammad Ashraf Lone from Poonchgund, BJP’s Showkat Wani from Loolipora, and PDF candidate Javaid Beigh from Sonpah Beerwah.
Sources said that during a PAGD meeting that was held on Sunday at the residence of Farooq Abdullah, it was unanimously decided to field PDP’s Nazir Khan from Beerwah for District Development Constituency elections. Sources added that PDP even handed over an authority letter to Khan, but to the shock of Khan, his name was missing from the list published by PAGD.
“Omar Abdullah played a game. The same Omar who claimed that those should die of shame who will still play politics, again played politics now. PADG knew it well that I have strong ground in Beerwah. I have support of Narbal and Beerwah BDC’s while BDC Khag was also my supporter who was killed in a militant attack,” Nazir Khan said.
Khan confirmed that he has filed his nomination papers and will contest as an independent candidate. When asked he is violating the rules of PAGD, Khan said there is no merit in Alliance.
“Though, i do believe in PAGD and support its stand, but the way Omar Abdullah backstabbed me and played politics has badly hurt me. PADG has fielded a ‘weak’ candidate and I think Omar wants BJP should win Beerwah seat,” he said.
Khan claimed that he received ‘Authority Letter’ from PDP at 8pm on Sunday night but Omar Abdullah changed the list of Peoples Alliance of Gupkar Declaration. KNT
