Two blasts rocked venues of election meetings of National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah here on Sunday. The Hizbul Mujahideen claimed responsibility for the blasts.
Condemning the attack, Dr. Abdullah, who is the party candidate in the Srinagar-Budgam constituency, and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said “violent forces” would not be allowed to succeed in their plans to subvert the election in the Valley.
Taking on the People’s Democratic Party and the Bharatiya Janata Party, Dr. Abdullah said that Kashmir would not remain with India if the nation turned communal.
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The first blast, a grenade attack, took place at a marriage hall, 50 yards from the venue at Khanyar. Three people sustained minor injuries.
Undeterred by the blast, Dr. Abdullah said: “Communalism is not acceptable to Kashmiris. In fact, those who vote for Modi should drown in the sea.” In the second blast at Magam in Budgam district, 15 people were injured.