Suhail Bhat
SRINAGAR, Aug 21: Former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today accused the administration in Ladakh of buckling under the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on the issue of allotting plough symbol to the party.
Speaking to reporters at party headquarters in Srinagar, Omar said that the struggle against the present BJP Government has become their habit now.
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“It is apparent that under the pressure of the BJP, the Ladakh administration is forced to repeatedly knock at the doors of the court. We want to fight elections with our symbol; why is the Ladakh administration against it?” he asked.
Omar said that they will fight the legal battle over their election symbol in the Apex court.
“We have moved to a Higher Court earlier as well, where the single-judge bench has given a decision in our favour. They then filed a 300-page petition in the division bench, and there also we emerged victorious by the grace of God. Now we have heard that they have reached the Supreme Court to file an SLP. The symbol of the National Conference has become such a big issue in the Hill Council elections that they have to take it to the Supreme Court. There is no need to worry, as our lawyers are ready. Let the Supreme Court admit it. We will go there with full hope as well,” he said.
The former Chief Minister asked why the BJP is shying away from holding assembly elections in J&K.
“Let them announce the ULB elections. We will make preparations on our end, and when they are announced, we will fight on the ground. But the big question remains if they want to hold ULB, Panchayat, and Parliament elections here, why not the assembly elections? What is the reason that the BJP is time and again avoiding the assembly elections? Why are they so afraid of holding the elections? Let us come to the ground. Let us face the people and see where stands,” he said.
On the appointment of Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chief Mohammad Yasin Malik’s wife as a special advisor to Pakistan’s newly appointed caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar, Omar said it was their internal matter.
He said India has got nothing to do with the neighbouring country appointing ministers in their nation.
“Do we appoint Ministers after consulting Pakistan? Why should we expect them to consult us before appointing their Ministers? This is their internal matter and we have got nothing to do with it.”
Omar also refused to comment on Rahul Gandhi’s claim on China occupying Indian territory in Ladakh. Without getting dragged into the war of words between the opposition Congress and the Government over the matter, he said Rahul will answer this question.
“Rahul Gandhi will answer this. What have I got to do with it? Ask him this question. Obviously, his colleagues there (in Ladakh) must have told him about the issue. What can I say about what the PM or Rahul Gandhi said? I am not there in Ladakh,” he remarked.
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