Karra Accuses NC of Fueling Boycott Politics
PDP Leader Says NC Helped Create Hurriyat, Then Vilified It
‘NC Shunned Plebiscite for Power, Now Blames Others’: Karra
Karra Mocks NC’s Decline from 65 to 28 Seats
PDP’s Growth Reflects People’s Faith, Says Former Minister
Srinagar, May 1, KNT: Senior People’s Democratic Party (PDP) leader and former Finance Minister Tariq Hamid Karra on Wednesday accused the National Conference (NC) of deliberately fostering political disillusionment among Kashmiris to benefit from election boycotts.
In a strong counter to recent statements by NC leader Ali Mohammad Sagar, Karra said the NC has historically thrived on public alienation and has actively discouraged voter participation. “Let NC come forward and encourage people to vote—if that happens, the party will vanish from the political landscape,” he told KNT, asserting that the NC effectively implements Hurriyat’s boycott call under the guise of democratic politics.
Karra pointed out that even the Indian Prime Minister had not denied allegations of electoral manipulation in Srinagar during the 2008 Assembly elections. “They tactfully rig elections and then cry foul. The environment of discontent they cultivate is not accidental—it’s a tactic,” he alleged.
Responding to Sagar’s claim that Mufti Mohammad Sayeed was responsible for the split in Hurriyat, Karra hit back sharply, saying, “Before pointing fingers, NC should answer who laid the foundation of the Hurriyat Conference. It was their own creation, born out of the betrayal of their earlier pledges.”
He accused the NC of abandoning its commitment to plebiscite once it tasted power. “This party exploited the aspirations of Kashmiris. They once championed plebiscite and made people dream of a different future, only to discard it all for political gain. The history of betrayal lies with NC, not PDP,” Karra said.
Taking a dig at NC’s declining electoral strength, he reminded the public that NC, once the dominant force with 65 seats, had now shrunk to 28. “Meanwhile, PDP rose from 16 to 21 seats. NC now needs support from other parties to stay afloat—doesn’t that concern them?” he asked.
Highlighting the PDP’s performance, Karra said that the party launched several development projects during its rule. “Can NC name a single major project initiated or completed in Srinagar over the last five years? People are not moved by empty slogans anymore—they want delivery and accountability,” he concluded. [KNT]
