Srinagar, May 11 (JKNS): Jammu and Kashmir peoples conference president Sajad Gani Lone on Monday alleged that the National Conference and PDP had together “gifted” a Rajya Sabha seat to the BJP through what he termed a “fixed match” during the recent Rajya Sabha elections in Jammu and Kashmir.
Addressing a press conference in Srinagar, as per news agency JKNS, Sajad questioned the role of PDP in the Rajya Sabha polls and referred to an RTI response which, according to him, revealed that PDP had not appointed a polling agent during the election process.
Sajad Lone said the polling agent system exists because of anti-defection laws and that an agent is required to verify and monitor voting by party legislators. “The RTI revealed that PDP had not appointed an agent. This meant their members were free to vote without any supervision,” he said.
The PC chief further targeted Omar Abdullah over his remarks regarding the RTI disclosures. He questioned how the Chief Minister claimed to have learnt about the issue only after the RTI surfaced.
“Your Speaker, your Assembly staff and administration were all functioning under your government. Did you not know till now that PDP had not appointed an agent?” Sajad asked.
He alleged that both NC and PDP acted together in a manner that ultimately benefited the BJP. “One party did not appoint an agent while the other did not raise objections. Together they gifted the Rajya Sabha seat to BJP,” he claimed.
Sajad Lone also alleged that the 2024 Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir were fought on an anti-BJP narrative, but the same parties later facilitated BJP’s victory in the Rajya Sabha election. “I had called it a fixed match even then,” he said.
The Peoples Conference President further claimed that his party had earlier offered support if the Rajya Sabha seat was given to Congress, but alleged that the NC and PDP chose a different path.
During the press conference, Sajad Lone also raised the issue of outsourcing in government departments and claimed that nearly 22,000 to 24,000 government jobs had been outsourced in Jammu and Kashmir.
“Approximately Rs 1,000 crore are being given to outsourcing companies. Whenever this issue comes up, confusion is created instead of providing clarity,” he said.
He urged the media to question parties over the Rajya Sabha outcome and said the people of Jammu and Kashmir deserve answers regarding the election process and political conduct surrounding it. (JKNS)