Ghulam Nabi Azad, president of the Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP), criticized former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah during his campaign in Doda.
Azad accused Abdullah of visiting the Chenab Valley merely as a "tourist," spending summers in London and winters in warmer climates abroad.
While campaigning for DPAP candidate G M Saroori, Azad took aim at Abdullah's alleged infrequent visits to the region. The campaign for the Udhampur-Kathua Lok Sabha constituency has intensified with politicians exchanging personal jabs.
The upcoming election will see Congress's Lal Singh challenging Union minister and BJP candidate Jitendra Singh. DPAP's G M Saroori is also among the 10 candidates in the fray for the parliamentary seat, which will be contested in the first phase of the Lok Sabha election on April 19.
Azad remarked, "Omar sahib ... You visit your maternal grandfather's house during summers in London and some hot country during winters and you come here as a tourist."
Abdullah, who is campaigning for Congress's Choudhary Lal Singh, has also been under scrutiny. Lal Singh is contesting for the fourth time from the Udhampur Lok Sabha seat.
Azad further questioned Abdullah's absence from the Chenab Valley during his tenure as chief minister. "Have you seen his face in Doda, Bhaderwah, or Kishtwar during his tenure as CM? Has he been here for the last 10 years?" Azad queried.
He also criticized Abdullah and other politicians for their silence on issues like land eviction orders and the abolition of Article 370. "Where were these political tourists in Chenab Valley during these ten years of people's suffering? Did they raise their voices against land eviction or Article 370 in Parliament?" Azad questioned.
Azad accused the National Conference (NC) of indirectly supporting the BJP's agenda for its own interests rather than focusing on the welfare of the people. "They seem to be aiding the BJP in every action. Their leaders are too busy appeasing the BJP, just check their statements. They are the ones who declared their doors open for NDA, not me. So who's the BJP's A team? It's NC," Azad alleged.
The former J-K chief minister further criticized Abdullah and his associates for living luxuriously despite restrictions like the Public Safety Act. Azad emphasized his commitment to alleviating the suffering of the people and advocated for the restoration of Article 370 and 35A, as well as the statehood of Jammu and Kashmir.
Azad also questioned the Congress party's stance on Article 370, stating that he was the only one to speak on the issue while he was with Congress. "Congress is silent on Article 370, they didn't even speak when I was in Congress. Only I know how I managed to speak on Article 370 in parliament," he said.