Baramulla, Dec 11: While addressing a party convention at Baramulla Dak bungalow, Jammu and Kashmir National Conference Vice-President Omar Abdullah said that the Government of India’s claim that everything is normal in Jammu and Kashmir is totally baseless and contrary to what is happening on ground. He further added that the results of the DDC elections reflects the deep rooted trust that people have in NC.
He further said that, “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 the reason behind his outreach to the general public and workers is to congratulate them for their victory in DDC elections. “It is you who have deflated the claims of certain quarters that post abrogation NC was poised to get wiped out. You took it upon yourself to ensure the victory of NC candidates during the elections. Most of the party leaders were caged. Most of us were facing incarceration in jails, and various others were in house detention. Yet, by dint of your deep rooted faith in your party, you came out and defeated those forces who wanted us obliterated. Baramulla has been a bastion of our party, the foundations of our fortress in this historical district are solid and deep rooted, he stated while exhorting functionaries. We have to reach out to our workers who are waiting for us to reach out to them. The party leadership will ensure that our estranged workers, who are the heart and soul of our party, are back on ground. It is for this reason we have entrusted the job to Dr Sajad and Javed Dar, Dr Sajad. Both are capable and dynamic” he said.
Questioning the GoI claims on August 05 2019 decisions, Omar said that the ruling dispensation in New Delhi is proclaiming that everything is hunky dory in Jammu and Kashmir, while as the ground reality is contrary to it. “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. 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 disprove 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 we in J&K enjoy the same privilege? Why is it that the people of Jammu and Kashmir have been at a much lower pedestal?”
On tourism arrivals in Kashmir, Omar said, “As if the tourists all over India were waiting for the articles to be removed. Tourists have been coming to Kashmir in far greater numbers before Aug 05 2019.”
Party General Secretary Ali Mohammad Sagar, PP Nasir Aslam Wani, and 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.