“unfortunately election issues haven’t changed,” says Ghulam Nabi Azad ahead of 2nd phase of polling in J&K

Ganderbal (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], September 23 (ANI): Democratic Progressive Azad Party Chief Ghulam Nabi Azad on Monday expressed happiness that elections were being held in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir after a gap of ten years while lamenting they were not held earlier.

He also wondered how “Islam is in danger” can be an issue in a place where Muslims constitute 98 percent of the total population.

In an exclusive interview with ANI, the former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister said, “It’s a matter of happiness that elections are happening but the sad thing is that they weren’t held earlier… I thought that the issues would change in this election but unfortunately, the issues haven’t changed. I am listening to the same slogans that were used in elections when I was in college… Roads, schools, and education are not an issue, but Islam is in danger–that is the issue.”

He said that the BJP is being accused of dividing the people based on religion but said that people here (Jammu and Kashmir) are doing the same thing.

Azad added, “Many big powers came into the world but couldn’t finish Islam. How can it be finished now? We oppose the BJP as they divide people based on religion, but here also, people are doing the same. It means they are also dividing people in the name of religion… Even in the places where the Muslim population contributes to 5 percent, they are not in danger, but here, where Muslims are 98 percent, they are saying that Islam is in danger…”

“Can anyone dare to touch 98 percent of Muslims?” Azad asked.

National Conference President Farooq Abdullah told ANI on September 21, “When they point one finger towards us, three fingers are raised towards them. These (BJP) are the biggest looters. They have ruined the country. They have tried to divide the Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs and Christians. They do not want to keep India united; they want to divide India.”

Voting for the second and third phases in J-K will be held on September 25 and October 1, respectively. Votes will be counted on October 8.