SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference Vice President Omar Abdullah questioned the government’s reluctance to hold elections in Jammu and Kashmir despite assertions of normalcy and development in the region.
Addressing a one-day workers convention at Langate on Sunday, Omar said that the situation on the ground was in stark contrast to the claims that were made in the aftermath of Article 370 abrogation.
“Hoisting big flags everywhere cannot win people’s hearts. To win people’s hearts one has to understand their feelings, solve their problems, and reduce their suffering. It has to be acknowledged, that you cannot win the hearts of common people by keeping people locked up in jails for years. The central government made a lot of propaganda about Article 370 which ultimately proved to be a lie and deception,” Omar said.
Omar further said that the whole world was told that Article 370 is a barrier to employment in Jammu and Kashmir, the root of bribery and corruption. “It was further said that it helped separatists and militants. But it has been more than four years since the Article was abrogated. What has changed? If BJP has done development for J&K then why run from elections.”
“Our people are struggling in every sphere of life whether it be the availability of water, erratic power supply or unemployment. Our honour has been erased, our identity has been destroyed, what did the people here get in return for this except problems, difficulties and sufferings? Which young people are doing government jobs today? We were told that there will be no electricity cuts now. But the reality is for everyone to see. the daily lives of our people is crippled with unscheduled power cuts and long outages. This government has left no stone unturned in installing smart meters, but when it comes to ensuring electric supply, the administration turns volte-face,” he further added.
Taking a dig at BJP’s local cronies, Omar said, “I advise BJP’s A, B, C, D teams to raise their voice against what is happening to Kashmiris in UP instead of opposing the National Conference. Use your influence to see how Kashmiris are called to police stations and harassed. If you can’t talk about Kashmiris, at least talk about the Muslims of UP, where anything with the stamp of halal is a crime now. You have given up on the restoration of Article 370, but why are you silent on other things? Just as we are demanding the return of electricity projects to improve the electricity system, who is stopping you from doing so? Don’t you see the people of Kashmir are suffering?”
