Excelsior Correspondent
BARAMULLA, Dec 11: The National Conference Vice President Omar Abdullah today said that Government of India’s claim that everything was normal in Jammu and Kashmir was contrary to what was happening on the ground.
While addressing a party Convention at Baramulla Dak Bungalow, he said that the ruling dispensation in New Delhi is proclaiming that everything is hunky dory in Jammu and Kashmir, while as the ground reality belies such flimsy claims.
“We were promised that Jammu and Kashmir was in for mega growth, employment, infrastructure build-up, and much more. I believed that the decisions must have given such projected developmental dividends to the people of Jammu at least. But the sullen looks of the people on the other side of Pir Panjal said it all. Not a single job has been given to our youth there, no power projects, roads, hospitals have come up. Hopes of our educated youngsters there have dashed like elsewhere in J&K. People are worried for the future of their kids,” he said.
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Omar stated that the incumbent ruling dispensation has liquidated the Vajpayee legacy. “It was Vajpayee who opened up the trade and bus service across LoC but today we are being told that it was being misused. The reasons put forth by the Government imply that Vajpayee was wrong then. The same Vajpayee, whom they conferred with the highest civilian award of the country. If he wasn’t wrong, then why is it that the biggest CBMs initiated by him were discontinued?” he added.
“Among other promises, we were told that August 2019 measures will end separatism and militancy. Did it? The prevailing security situation on the roads of Jammu and Kashmir disproves such claims as well,” he added.
On land and job rights, Omar said if the people of Ladakh are allowed to have exclusive rights over their land, jobs, scholarships, why can’t J&K enjoy the same privilege? “Why is it that the people of Jammu and Kashmir have been at a much lower pedestal?” he asked.
On tourism arrivals in Kashmir, Omar said that tourists have been coming to Kashmir in far greater numbers before Aug 05 2019. He also busted the misinformation campaign on NC canvassing for polls. “Nowhere did I seek votes while I was on a tour of the Chenab region. Power is not our destiny. It is a means to achieve our goal. Our destination is beyond getting power. We are not averse to the idea of being in power, if our goal requires us to have it, we will with the active support of the masses. However it has never been the fulcrum point of our politics. Whenever the trumpet of election is blown, we will then come again to you with an election manifesto,” he said.
Party General Secretary Ali Mohammad Sagar, PP Nasir Aslam Wani, party functionaries Javed Dar, Dr Sajjad Shafi, Gh Hassan Rahi, Mohammad Yaqoob Wani, Reyaz Bedar, Tanvir Sadiq, Ahsan Pardesi, Salman Ali Sagar, Neelofar Masood, Muneer Bhat, Sameer Bhat were present on the occasion.
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