Omar crticises separatists for poll boycott

JAMMU: Criticising separatists for giving a call for poll boycott in the Kashmir Valley, the National Conference on Thursday said the hardliners should not "use gun" to enforce their call during the elections.
 
"If they want boycott of elections, let them give such call but not use gun for enforcing the boycott call," NC leader Omar Abdullah said here.
 
Omar, however, said boycotting polls is not in favour of larger interests of people of the state as participation in elections is aimed at forming a government to deal with the problems of the people.
 
The NC leader said the party's election manifesto for the forthcoming assembly elections will be released in a couple of days.
 
"There will be no separate manifesto for Jammu Province and Kashmir Valley. The NC will have one manifesto for the state," Omar said.
 
He said final touches were being given to the candidates list and that it would be released soon.
 
"The candidates list will have an equal mix of new and old faces," he said.
 
The NC chief also said the Election Commission should appoint more observers to ensure "free and fair" elections in the state.
 
"If foreigners like ambassadors of different countries from New Delhi wish to come to the state during the elections, they sould be allowed," Omar said.
 
The NC had yesterday announced that it would go it alone in the assembly polls.

To a question on LoC trade, Omar said it has just started and that the party wants the trade to be expanded.
 
"It should not be restricted to the list of 21 items only," he said.
 
"The LoC trade should not be mixed with the resolution of Kashmir issue. We ask the governments of India and Pakistan not to delay the process of the resolution of the issue," he said.
 
On Baghliar project, Omar said it should be resolved as per the Indus Water Treaty.
 
When his attention was drawn to the "polarised situation" in Jammu Province and Kashmir Valley due to recent agitation on the Amarnath issue, he admitted that there is a gap between the two regions.
 
"Time is the best healer," he said and added that the Government would play its role in bringing back the atmosphere that prevailed before the agitation.
 
"I have not seen any uprising in Jammu on sectarian politics like Kashmiri Separatism since 1980s. I don't believe that people of Jammu will fall prey to the propaganda of polarisation," he said.
 
The NC will will reach out to people of all areas and sections with a secular message, he said.
      
Omar came down heavily on People's Democratic Party (PDP) and said its leaders "exploited the people on regional and religious issues".
 
"Their tactics are not going to affect the psyche of the people and they will have to give account of the last six years of rule when they participate in the assembly polls," Omar said.

Meanwhile, former BSP state president Yashpal Bhagat joined the NC along with his supporters in the presence of Omar Abdullah.
 
Bhagat decided to join the NC to serve the people of the state, Omar said, adding that the party would field him from Bishnah constituency in the assembly polls.
 
Speaking on the occasion, Bhagat said he decided to join NC for its pro-people and secular stance.
 
Bhagat was recently suspended from BSP for his anti-party activities.