‘We don’t need tutorials on nationalism’
Excelsior Correspondent
RAMBAN, Dec 2: Asking New Delhi to remain faithful to its solemn pledges to people of J&K, National Conference Vice-President and former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today alleged that incumbent ruling dispensation was looking at the Muslims of the country and more particularly of Jammu Kashmir with profound mistrust notwithstanding their supreme sacrifices to defend the nation.
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“Our faith in the country was tested in 1947. We don’t need tutorials on nationalism. All we want is that New Delhi should stand by its solemn promises made to people of J&K at the time of accession,” he said while addressing a public rally, here today on the last day of his week- long tour of erstwhile Doda district.
Maintaining that people of J&K, particularly the Muslims and the NC cadre have been consistent in their faith in Indian Constitution, Omar Abdullah said: “We have cherished our bond with the country and given supreme sacrifices to defend it. We in NC have shouldered the bodies of our colleagues, and workers who gave their lives in protecting this bond. Contrarily it is New Delhi which has backtracked on its solemn and sovereign promises which it made to the people of Jammu and Kashmir, when it acceded with the dominion of India. The moment we raise our voice against abrogation of those expressions, we are mocked and ridiculed as traitors. We aren’t.”
“All we are asking for is the fool proof protection for J&K’s unique, political and cultural identity. It was told to us that our land, jobs, and personal laws will be protected. We want New Delhi to redeem those pledges,” he stressed.
The NC leader alleged that outsourcing of jobs and contracts in Jammu and Kashmir after August 5, 2019 have rendered local youth hopeless as the employment opportunities were shrinking further for them.
“Youth of Jammu and Kashmir have been the most hit due to the decisions of August 5, 2019. The Government jobs which should have been given to our youth are going to outsiders. It is the youth of Jammu, Kashmir, Chenab and Pir Panjal regions who should have the first rights over the employment generated in their region,” he said.
Lamenting that the situation in Chenab Valley was much worse, Omar said that ideally much of the employment generated in local power and road infrastructure projects initiated by NC Governments in this region should have gone into the hands of local educated, skilled youth of Chenab region but it was not done.
“On the contrary, the outsourcing of jobs and contracts has rendered our youth in this region and elsewhere hopeless. It is this injustice that we are fighting against,” he said.
On BJPs claims of fostering development and progress in Jammu and Kashmir post 5th August 2019, the former Chief Minister said: “Promised dawn of development, jobs for youth and much touted investment remains to be a distant dream. Far from putting the region on a path of development, the ruling dispensation has liquidated the hard-earned dividends of previous NC led Governments in bridging the gulf between the people and the Government. We are fighting to bridge that gulf by fighting for the restoration of their abridged Constitutional rights.”
Among others, NC General Secretary Ali Mohammad Sagar, Provincial President Jammu Ratan Lal Gupta, senior leaders Khalid Najeeb Suharawardy, Sajad Kitchloo, Tanvir Sadiq, Aijaz Jan, Sajad Shaheen, Chaman Lal and Jagveer Dass were also present on the occasion.
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