SRINAGAR: In an interesting political development, Omar Abdullah, Vice President of the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (JKNC), has called on the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to withdraw its candidates for the upcoming assembly elections and support the NC. He was addressing a public gathering in Nunar, Ganderbal, the constituency he is most likely contesting from.
Omar Abdullah criticised the PDP for blurring the lines between its agenda and that of the JKNC, essentially incorporating key elements of the JKNC’s manifesto into its own.
At the event, Omar Abdullah warmly welcomed youth leader and political activist Sayim Mustafa into his party, expressing optimism that his joining would reinforce the party’s traditional base in Ganderbal. The public meeting, organized by Mustafa himself, saw the participation of prominent NC leaders including Nasir Aslam Wani, Members of Parliament Mian Altaf Ahmed, Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi.
In his address, Omar Abdullah asserted the importance of unity among regional parties in the face of the upcoming assembly elections. “If we had stood together, we could have proudly flown our flag, enacted our laws, and maintained a special status within the Indian Constitution. However, our disunity has silenced our collective voice, leaving us vulnerable to the challenges we now face,” he said.
Omar Abdullah criticised PDP President Mehbooba Mufti for offering support to the JKNC on the condition that the NC adopt the PDP’s agenda. “Upon examining the PDP manifesto released yesterday, it is evident that it simply copies the National Conference’s manifesto,” he remarked, urging the PDP to withdraw its candidates and join forces with the JKNC for the betterment of Jammu and Kashmir.
Omar also reiterated the JKNC’s commitment to addressing pressing issues such as unemployment, lack of access to education, and economic hardships faced by the people. He highlighted the party’s election manifesto, which includes promises of 200 units of free electricity, clean drinking water, 12 free gas cylinders for underprivileged families, and increased rations for those in need. He also pledged to restore the supply of sugar and kerosene to the public.
Besides, Omar vowed to tackle the prevailing atmosphere of fear and pressure in the region, particularly concerning the harassment of youth during CID verification processes for passports, jobs, and bank loans. “The National Conference’s manifesto outlines our vision for a better future, but we cannot achieve it without the full cooperation and participation of the people in the upcoming assembly elections,” he stated.
