JKLF chief Yasin Malik on Wednesday called for a boycott of the upcoming by-polls for Anantnag seat that fell vacant after the demise of former Chief Minister Mufti Muhammad Sayeed on January 7.
“The so-called Assembly is deployed to harm national interests of the Kashmiris. It is necessary to boycott elections, which will be [a mark of] gratitude to the great martyrs who laid down their lives for our better tomorrow,” Mr. Malik said in a statement issued from the Central Jail, where he has been detained since May 25.
Backing a boycott call issued earlier by the Hurriyat chairman Syed Ali Geelani, Mr. Malik said: “How can any Kashmiri vote for those who are hell bent on implementing RSS anti-Muslim, anti-Kashmir agenda and conspiring to change demography and turn majority into minority?”
Anantnag Assembly segment is going to polls on June 22. Besides Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, eight candidates are in the fray. Independent legislator Engineer Rashid has withdrawn his nomination without citing any reason.
Meanwhile, a joint consultation meeting of the Hurriyat factions and JKLF was held here. Putting up a united face, they expressed their opposition to the construction of separate colonies for Pandits and ex-soldiers.
All religious leaders have been asked to tell the people about the upcoming colonies in their Friday sermons.
On June 12, separatists are organising a joint seminar at Mr. Geelani’s residence in Srinagar.