Suhail Bhat
SRINAGAR, Apr 17: National Conference vice president, Omar Abdullah, today criticized the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for not fielding candidates from Kashmir in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
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Addressing an election rally in the Larnoo area of Kokernag in Anantnag district, Omar remarked that the BJP has failed to win the hearts of the people, leading to their absence from the Valley’s electoral race.
He said that the decision not to field candidates contradicts the BJP’s claims of widespread satisfaction over abrogation of Articles 370, 35A and dividing Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories.
He questioned the validity of the BJP’s assertions regarding peace, prosperity and development in Jammu and Kashmir post August 5, 2019.
“They (BJP) claim that people are happy in Jammu and Kashmir after August 5, 2019 as new avenues of employment have been opened here and a new era of development has begun, and no group is angry or disheartened here. If that is the case, why is not any BJP candidate contesting elections here? We are not getting any answer from the BJP for this question,” he said.
Abdullah also referred to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent address in Jammu, where he mentioned that the future of Jammu and Kashmir has changed significantly since the abrogation of Article 370.
Responding to this, Omar said: “We would not count the work we did or remind him of what NC has done here. The biggest claim was that the people were deceived by the 370; how can I make them understand that this is the only State where people got ownership rights to their land without any compensation,” he said.
Abdullah directly addressed the BJP, questioning their need for other parties’ assistance in the region. “If people are so satisfied here, why do you need the help of other people or parties here like Altaf Bukhari’s Apni Party?” he asked.
Regarding the upcoming elections in Udhampur Lok Sabha seat, he noted the enthusiasm among the people, suggesting it would be challenging for the BJP to retain their seat. “The atmosphere is good. With the type of enthusiasm shown by the people there, it seems it will be difficult to retain this seat for the BJP,” he said.
Omar took a dig at the Home Minister’s recent comments in Jammu, where he claimed that the lotus would naturally bloom in Srinagar. He said that in the 2019 elections, every seat had a BJP candidate, striving to make the lotus bloom in this region, yet their efforts proved futile.
“The BJP now refrains from direct participation, instead opting to contest through alliances with other parties. The difference is we are aligning openly with the INDIA bloc, while the BJP attempts to cloak its involvement. But people are aware of it,” he said.
Abdullah said that Tarug Chug’s visit to Altaf Bukhari’s house, where Sajad Lone was also present, indicates that these parties are essentially supporting BJP in the elections. “It is clear that despite lacking their own candidates, the Apni Party and People’s Conference nominees will be fighting on behalf of the BJP,” he said.
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