Irfan Tramboo
Srinagar, Sept 14: Terming Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s statement as “misleading,” National Conference (NC) vice-president and former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today suggested that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) might even seek help from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) if they fall short of numbers in J&K.
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Speaking to reporters in Kulgam after addressing a public rally, Omar Abdullah said that blaming “families” for the “destruction” in J&K is merely a political statement set to be forgotten once the elections are over.
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“When the BJP needed support from one of these families, we were not responsible for the destruction in J&K. A few years ago, the BJP had a relationship with the PDP in J&K; back then, they did not find anything wrong with the PDP,” he said.
He continued, stating that when Atal Bihari Vajpayee needed a Minister, “he found me; but then there was nothing wrong with us. During elections, they always end up finding something wrong with us.”
Omar said that if the BJP falls short of numbers after the Assembly elections in J&K, they might even seek help from the PDP.
“Trust me, if the BJP falls short of numbers in J&K and if the PDP decides to help them again, all the wrongs in the PDP will suddenly become right.”
He noted that these statements are timely and political in nature. “After the elections, these utterances are completely forgotten.”
He criticized the PM for focusing on families instead of addressing the current security situation in J&K, where, he said, encounters continue despite claims that everything would be set right with the scrapping of Article 370.
“The PM should have spoken about the recent loss of two Army soldiers in a militant attack in Kishtwar; there is an ongoing encounter in North Kashmir,” he said.
He accused PM Modi of “misleading” people by focusing on families and avoiding discussion of the current situation in J&K.
“In 2019, when Article 370 was abrogated, the people were told that the gun in Kashmir was due to Article 370 and that once it was gone, the violence would disappear. Five years have passed, but the violence continues,” he stressed.
Regarding the elections, Omar expressed hope that people will vote for the NC and support its efforts for the betterment of J&K. “We hope that people will review our manifesto and vote in our favor.”