SRINAGAR: Zameer Abdullah, son of National Conference Vice President Omar Abdullah, expressed profound relief and joy following his father’s victories in the Ganderbal and Budgam Assembly constituencies. Speaking to reporters in Srinagar, Zameer described the election results as a “historic win” for Jammu and Kashmir, marking a significant moment for the region after a decade without a government.
“This is the mandate of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. The people are happy. This mandate is not just the National Conference’s; it’s the formation of a government after 10 years, and I am truly happy,” Zameer told press.
The election, which saw a resounding victory for the National Conference (JKNC), signalled the return of what Zameer described as the “people’s voice” after years of feeling stifled. “In the last seven years, the people’s voice has been suppressed. But today, they are out in full force because they know the JKNC is the party that will listen to them,” he asserted.
Zameer also took a critical stance on the 2019 abrogation of Article 370, a move by the central government that stripped Jammu and Kashmir of its special status. He highlighted that the decision had never resonated with the people of the region. “They tried to show that people were content with what happened in 2019, but it was wrong, and they couldn’t maintain that false narrative. Our youth are still in jails—why? Today, the people’s voice has finally emerged,” he passionately stated.
When asked about the possibility of his father, Omar Abdullah, taking up the role of Chief Minister, Zameer remained diplomatic, stating that the decision lay with the party leadership. “The party will make that decision, and I have nothing to do with it,” he said, underscoring that the National Conference would collectively decide the future course of leadership.
Throughout the election campaign, the Abdullah family maintained a strong stance on the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood. Zameer reiterated this commitment, stating, “I said throughout the campaign that the Union government must return statehood to Jammu and Kashmir and respect the people’s mandate. We will fight for the restoration of statehood.”
Zameer also accused the central government of attempting to sideline Omar Abdullah in past political contests, suggesting a deliberate strategy from New Delhi to keep the senior leader away from the parliamentary elections. “There was a strategy from those in Delhi to keep Omar Sahib away from the parliamentary elections, but the people saw through it. They voted for him and the National Conference,” he remarked.
With the National Conference’s victory in the Ganderbal and Budgam constituencies, Zameer Abdullah’s reflections encapsulate the optimism within the party and the broader aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. The election results are seen as a mandate for change, statehood restoration, and a rejection of the policies implemented since 2019.
