Rakesh Handu, KP settled in Haryana among 39 in fray

SRINAGAR: As many as 39 candidates have filed their nomination papers before the returning officer for election to the Lok Sabha Srinagar seat.
Among the 39 candidates is Rakesh Handu, a Kashmir migrant, now settled in Faridabad, Haryana. Per the affidavit, Rakesh Handu has the highest qualification, a Diploma in Electronics from ITI Srinagar Certificate.
Rakesh is the candidate of Jammu and Kashmir National United Front and had fought elections against former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Dr. Farooq Abdullah, in the 2008 assembly elections from the Hazratbal constituency.
Talking over the phone, Handu said, “I am a Kashmiri migrant who has been living in several places in India. Currently, I am situated in Haryana”.
I work in the private sector, so he said my wife and I have mentioned everything in my nomination papers that I submitted today in Srinagar.
Asked about his political career, he said, “I have fought on Jammu and Kashmir National United Front seat against Dr. Farooq Abdullah in Hazratbal constituency.”
And today, he said I have filed the nominations on behalf of all Kashmiri pundits.
He said, “We had a hope for the Prime Minister during the last ten years, but, unfortunately, nothing was done by the central government.” Look at the condition of those Kashmiri migrants living in Jagti in Jammu and those who are in Srinagar, he said.
I will fight for my community. I am planning to start campaigning soon in the Srinagar constituency. I will visit all the places where Kashmiri migrants are placed, he said.