Srinagar, Apr 21 (KNS): A day after J&K Peoples Conference Chairman Sajad Gani Lone sought support of Altaf Bukhari led Apni Party in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections in north Kashmir’s Baramulla segment, the former chief minister and vice-president National Conference Omar Abdullah hits out at the former, saying “Till yesterday I was a tourist, but today they are seeking support of others to defeat me”.

“Till yesterday I was being dubbed as a tourist, but today they beg before Apni Party, seeking help to defeat me in north Kashmir. If they have courage to fight and if I’m not in a position to win elections there, then why they beg for support from Altaf Bukhari. This vindicates that land has started slipping under their feet,” Omar Abdullah as per Kashmir News Service (KNS) told reporters on the sidelines of an election rally in south Kashmir’s Anantnag.

He said, “It has BJP’s strategy to put A, B and C teams in the field. BJP is doing frequent meetings in Srinagar. Recently Tarun Chugh visited here and held closed door meetings in which PC Chairman Sajad Gani Lone was part. Home Minister Amit Shah is targeting INDIA bloc and NC only. He didn’t speak a single word against these A, B and C teams”.

The former chief minister said that BJP and its proxies are trying to defeat us and are trying to change election results, but we are hopeful that people will cast their votes in favor of INDIA bloc and NC candidates and make our contest on all three seats in Kashmir valley a grand success.

On seat sharing tussle with PDP, the NC leader said “We are in the INDIA bloc not because of greed for seats, and PAGD was not formed for the same reason. Seats are being divided through a set formula agreed upon by every constituent. But unfortunately it couldn’t materialize at regional level”. (KNS)