SRINAGAR: National Conference Vice-President Omar Abdullah said the political situation in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir has become perplexed as there is complete lull on much awaited assembly elections in the region.
Omar Abdullah in a media interview in Srinagar said BJP is scared of holding assembly polls in IIOJK and added, “The party is well aware about its fate”.
He spoke in length on wide range of issues including prevailing political situation in IIOJK, increase of seats in legislative assembly for Kashmiri Pandits and West Pakistani Refugees and delay in holding assembly elections.
He said the political situation in Jammu and Kashmir is in a state-of-confusion where a space for dissent has been strangulated. “People are not allowed to speak against injustice. Government is being used to suppress people by installing smart meters, hefty electricity bills, water taxes, unemployment etc. Let you check the condition of our hospitals. No senior doctor remains available. Patients have been handed over to juniors. It seems there is no coordination between government and people.”
He said the formation of Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) by opposition parties has frustrated BJP, compelling them to revive National Democratic Alliance (NDA) again to resist against the challenge of unity showed by almost 26 political parties of India.
Omar said that BJP does not want assembly elections to conduct in J&K till they are not confident they will get majority of seats in the region. BJP is well aware of this fact that they will not get enough seats in future elections in J&K. For this purpose they have taken up the process to increase seats in the name of Kashmiri Pandits (KPs) and West Pakistani Refugees (WPRs) just to continue their political dominance. They try to increase the seats before polls.
He said, “BJP knows that in the current scenario, they will never get seats. In fact, if elections are held today they will probably not even cross ten seats. “Therefore, their political future is linked to how best they can divide voters in Jammu and Kashmir. And that’s what they’re doing. But let elections come. I’m sure you will find that the people of Jammu and Kashmir are much wiser. They will not allow these sort of conspiracies to divide them.”
When asked about future modus operandi of People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD), meant for restoring snatched rights to J&K, Omar Abdullah said the future course of action will be decided as per the situation. Keep it secret till then. “What happened in August 5, 2019 will be flagged up by PAGD constituents unanimously. I am fighting for the larger cause of J&K democratically. Our party will fight it in the Indian Supreme Court. We will play our role at front foot. We have competent advocates like Kapil Sibal and others and are hopeful SC will deliver justice to people of J&K”.
On abrogation of Article 370, 35(A), he said, “Abrogation was their political agenda from a very long period of time. …they revoked it undemocratically”. Any decision about Article 370 should have been done by local assembly but unfortunately Parliament has been used for it.
When asked how NC is hopeful in getting Article 370 back when the Indian government had already rejected the proposal of Autonomy in past, Omar Abdullah said “I am not ready to accept the defeat. You can accept but I don’t. Why should not I raise my hands up? The case is sub judice and I’m hopeful we will get our due rights back from the Supreme Court. Either better than Article 370.
