Ganderbal (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], September 23 : Democratic Progressive Azad Party Chairman Ghulam Nabi Azad said on Monday that the issues in Jammu and Kashmir assembly polls have not changed and he is listening to the same slogans that were used to be there in elections during his college days.
Azad also pointed out that the regional parties in the Union Territory are dividing the people based on religion and roads, schools and education are not an issue, but Islam is a danger--that is the issue.
He 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 to be there in elections when I was in college... Roads, schools, and education are not an issue, but Islam is in danger--that is the issue. How can Islam be in danger? 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 five per cent, they are not in danger, but here where Muslims are 98 per cent, they are saying that Islam is in danger," Azad added.
Even earlier today, the former J-K Chief Minister called leaders of political parties his competitors, adding that he does not consider them enemies.
"The political parties are not my enemies; they are our competitors. Like in class, we are all good friends but there is a competition...So I take every political party and leader as my competitor," Democratic Progressive Azad Party Chairman Ghulam Nabi Azad said while doing a roadshow in Ganderbal in view of the Assembly elections in Union Territory.
Jammu and Kashmir is voting for its 90-member assembly in three phases. The first phase of voting took place on September 18.
Notably, a voter turnout of 61.13 pc was registered in the first phase of polling in the Jammu and Kashmir assembly polls, which were held in 24 constituencies in seven districts on September 18.
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.