Fearing BJP win, NC leader asks Geelani to review boycott call in Sopore

The ruling National Conference in Jammu and Kashmir Monday said top resistance leader Syed Ali Geelani to reconsider his election boycott call for volatile Sopore constituency saying the boycott would help the right wing Bharatiya Janata Party to make inroads.

NC’s candidate for the constituency Haji Muhammad Ashraf said it would be a major ‘set-back’ for All Parties Hurriyat Conference chief Geelani, if Sopore Assembly seat with the support of migrant voters is bagged by the pro-Hindu party Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP).

“I appeal Geelani to reconsider his boycott call in Sopore. He has been my mentor and I have great regard for him. He is an influential leader and people do support him by heart. Major portions of Sopore boycott elections on his call,” NC legislator Ashraf said.

He said Indian media will give it negative twist if BJP bags Sopore seat with the support of migrant voters.

He said that it is obvious that election boycott in Sopore will help BJP. “There is no denying in this fact that people love and respect Geelani and they follow his diktats in letter and spirit. “I as a pupil, vehemently appeal to him to ask people of Sopore to vote for any regional party this time. Once people will vote, BJP will disappear on the scene,” he said.

He admitted that he is not able to move freely in Sopore. He said that people, especially youth are not interested in elections and pro-freedom mood has been checking him to launch a door-to-door campaign in major belts of Sopore. “Right from 2008, the year when I was elected Legislative member, I could not roam freely in the town where anti-India sentiments are very deep. Still I did a lot for the people of Sopore,” he maintained.

Ashraf, however said that this time he is hopeful that people will vote to check the inroads of BJP. “I have been in constant touch with the migrant voters who mostly belongs to Bomai Sopore. I hope they will vote for me,” he said.