Srinagar, Aug 11,: Former National Conference parliamentarian and then NC election in-charge Abdul Rashid Kabuli has made explosive allegations about the 1987 Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections, claiming that he personally witnessed the rigging of the polls and that National Conference candidates were instructed to be declared winners even when they had not secured the required votes.
In a video interview with the news agency Kashmir News Trust, Kabuli alleged that the manipulation was carried out at the counting stage and claimed that all counting officers were assembled before then NC president Dr Farooq Abdullah and instructed to declare NC candidates victorious regardless of the actual votes polled.
Kabuli cited the Amira Kadal constituency as an example, alleging that NC stalwart Ghulam Mohiuddin Shah was losing to Muslim United Front candidate Molvi Mohammad Yousuf, now known as Syed Salahuddin, but was nevertheless declared the winner.
“I was in charge of elections for the National Conference and am a witness to how the elections were rigged,” Kabuli said.
He claimed that he objected when Shah was declared the winner despite allegedly trailing the Muslim United Front candidate, but was told by then NC General Secretary Sheikh Nazir that the manipulation had to be carried out to “save the foundation of the party.”
Kabuli alleged that the process went beyond an isolated constituency and claimed that counting officers had been given blanket instructions regarding NC candidates.
According to him, the 1987 election was not merely a disputed poll but an episode that had consequences far beyond the electoral process.“It was a rigged election that devastated Kashmir,” he said.
Kabuli also launched a sharp attack on former chief minister and NC president Farooq Abdullah, accusing him of being driven by the desire to retain political power and alleging that the interests of the people were compromised for the sake of his position.
“He was power hungry, cared a fig for the people and clung to his chair,” Kabuli alleged.
The former NC parliamentarian also made a serious allegation regarding the execution of Kashmiri separatist leader Maqbool Bhat, claiming that the Government of India had been willing to release him but that Farooq Abdullah became the biggest obstacle.
Kabuli said that, as a Member of Parliament, he had personally attempted to persuade the Government of India to secure Bhat’s release, but alleged that Abdullah opposed the effort.
He further alleged that Abdullah sent the then Director General of Police to Delhi with instructions that Bhat’s mortal remains should be buried inside Tihar Jail following his execution.
Kabuli claimed that even Begum Abdullah had advised Farooq Abdullah against the course of action, telling him that if he resigned, he would instead gain greater sympathy and support among the people.
The former parliamentarian said the developments surrounding the 1987 elections and the subsequent political decisions had left a deep imprint on Kashmir’s political history. [KNT]
