Says J&K, Ladakh not happy with Aug 5 move
Irfan Tramboo
SRINAGAR, Dec 6: Former Chief Minister and vice-president of National Conference (NC), Omar Abdullah, asserted today that the deprivation of the people of J&K of the right to elect their representatives is straining the relationship between the people of J&K and New Delhi, pushing it towards destruction.
Speaking to media persons after a party convention in Pulwama, Omar emphasized, “People have the right to exercise their vote and elect representatives who will voice their aspirations; depriving them of this right is leading this relationship toward destruction.”
He mentioned that the people have been denied this right after 2014, and it appears that the Government is involved in a “peculiar fixed match”.
“When questioned about elections, the Government refers to the Election Commission (EC), and when the EC is asked, they refer back to the Government,” he noted.
“Both are hiding behind each other, and the people are suffering as a result. Despite the Prime Minister expressing a desire to reduce ‘Dil Ki Doori and Delhi Se Doori,’ it seems he has failed to achieve this so far.”
He expressed dissatisfaction with the decision taken on August 5, 2019, stating that the people of J&K and Ladakh are unhappy with the outcomes, as evidenced by the local body elections.
“It became evident in Kargil; in DDC and BDC elections, if the Assembly elections were held, we would have shown that the people do not support the decision made on August 5,” he asserted.
During his address, Omar raised questions about the Government’s claims regarding the benefits of abrogating Article 370 for the people of J&K.
“Have we seen new hospitals, colleges, or universities? Have Government departments become more efficient? Are officers working to resolve people’s issues? Has life become easier, and has the specter of gun disappeared?” he questioned.
He criticized the Government for not fulfilling promises, including the pledge of 2 lakh jobs for youngsters, alleging that even existing vacant positions in various departments remain unfilled.
“There are vacant posts, but they are not being filled; 6500 posts are vacant in the police, and the same is true for other departments; no one is concerned about providing employment,” he lamented.
Regarding the abrogation of Article 370, Abdullah emphasized: “But what did they achieve after hurting people’s sentiments? 370 was a promise made to the people of J&K by the country; if weakening it is a matter of pride, so be it.”
Omar clarified that their goal is not merely to be in power for luxury but to have a Government “that reflects the sentiments of the people, addresses their issues, and restores the snatched honor and identity of J&K.”
He criticized the Government for changing department names without delivering tangible results. “PHE became Jal Shakti, but people got neither Jal nor Shakti. Despite having meters, power cuts for hours are a common sight these days.”
Omar reiterated the NC’s stance on Article 370, stating, “We are not those who’d say that 370 won’t come back. We will fight until we get it back. Our identity and honor were linked to it.”
He said that the sentiments of the people of J&K do not value in front of the current dispensation while referring to the recent incident at NIT-without naming it.
“Recently, a student said something that hurt our feelings; there were protests, demanding action, but what happened then, nothing. They, in turn, closed the colleges and did nothing.”
In contrast to that, Abdullah said, a few youngsters cheered after a cricket match, leading to a complaint, “what happened after that, all four were booked under UAPA. When our sentiments get hurt, they do not care about it, and when the sentiments of others are hurt, every action is ensured.”
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