Excelsior Correspondent
NAGROTRA, Dec 3: In the wake of the controversy over the hate speech by Union Minister Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi must apologise to the residents of Kashmir.
“Kashmir is a Muslim majority state and the Prime Minister who will hold a rally in Srinagar must apologise to the people of Kashmir as his Cabinet colleague has used abusive language for people like us,” Omar told reporters on the sidelines of an election rally here.
Asking BJP as how the party now expects votes from the people of Kashmir when such derogatory words have been used for the people, he said “Modi should explain why no action was taken against the minister… And apologise.”
Reacting to a question on the Prime Minister’s upcoming election rally in Kashmir in which BJP has claimed that it expects the participation of more than one lakh people, Omar said, “BJP has no dearth of money and they can offer food and arrange vehicles so it would not be a big deal to gather one lakh people from the entire Kashmir valley.”
He said even separatist-turned-politician Sajad Lone can alone bring more than 20 to 30 thousand people to attend Modi’s rally.
When asked to comment on the statement of AICC president Sonia Gandhi in which she had held the Omar Abdullah Government responsible for not implementing the Food Security Act in Jammu and Kashmir, he said the decision not to implement the Act in the State was taken after taking the Congress leadership into confidence.
“It was actually a considered decision on our part not to implement the Act and the Congress leadership, including Ghulam Nabi Azad, Ambika Soni and Saifuddin Soz were well aware of the decision. Jammu and Kashmir is the only state in India where the implementation of the Act would have removed food cover of more than 30 lakh people,” he said.
Omar said he would be the last person to implement a “piece of legislation” in the state that denies food to the people of the State.
While rubbishing the allegations of the BJP leadership that the NC Government has indulged in looting of the funds meant for the development of the state, Omar said, “They must prove it, they have under their control several agencies like, CBI, CID and ED, what stops them from showing the proof and proving the allegations.”
Replying to a query about BJP not raising the issue of the abrogation of the Article 370 from the constitution, Omar said, “they (BJP) has a habit of forgetting the issues that it raises during election. To seek votes in Kashmir they have forgotten this issue, but when there would be elections in some other state they would again raise this issue,”.
The Prime Minister will address two election rallies in Srinagar and Anantnag on December 6.
Assailing BJP for its double speak, Omar advised its top leadership to have self introspection before raising fingers towards National Conference.
“The country is witnessing with dismay the failures of BJP on all fronts, be it getting back the black money or heralding Ache Din”, Omar said while addressing a mammoth public meeting at Nagrota after the party candidate Devender Singh Rana filed his nomination papers.
He took jibe at BJP saying that people were waiting for Rs 15 lakh each within 100 days of its Government but over six months have elapsed nothing is heard. The same is true about rising prices of essentials and other issues of immense public importance, he said with people clapping on each word the Chief Minister spoke.
“You have mumbled, fumbled and jumbled on every important issue and promises made during parliamentary elections”, Omar said amid huge applause while adding that the BJP was on an awkward retreat. He took its leaders head on for speaking in different tones on Article 370 in Jammu and Srinagar.
He wondered over the BJP stand on AFSPA and questioned its locus-standi to talk about revocation of this law when it has vehemently and categorically opposed the partial revocation of AFSPA proposed by National Conference led Government over the years.
“The rhetoric of BJP is nothing but an attempt to mislead the people, Omar said.
“How can the party that failed miserably in keeping even a single promise made to people of India just seven months back, fulfil the commitments made liberally in Jammu and Kashmir”, he said and cautioned the people to see through their deceit aimed at grabbing the power.
Omar appealed to the people to deliver severe defeat to the forces bent upon fragmenting the pluralistic ethos, communal amity and solidarity of Jammu and Kashmir which, he said, is the ages old characteristic of this State. He said National Conference will never allow opportunists and divisive forces to realize their vested interests at the cost of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
He said that the people of Jammu and Kashmir are wiser enough to understand the tricks and poll planks by certain political parties to take benefit by dividing people on caste, creed, religion and regional and other grounds and through propaganda. He exuded confidence that the voters will teach a lesson to those who talk in different voices in different areas and create a hoax about their success.
Castigating Congress for its opportunism and anti-National Conference propaganda, Omar reminded its leaders of being in power in the State for 12 years in two Governments of PDP and National Conference and said that the miserable failure of the MLAs and Ministers of Congress is visible across the State. He said that it was Congress led Government which created regional frenzy between Kashmir valley and Jammu in 2008 and put the State to the blaze of confusion, hatred and communal disturbance.
“The peaceful atmosphere and gigantic development process besides youth welfare, employment generation and visit of crores of yatris and tourists to the State is due to the efforts of National Conference led Government”, he said and added that Congress wants to take the credit of all the good governance, public service, infrastructure development and holistic progress registered during the NC led Government to itself and shift the blame of its own shortcomings to the National Conference.
Omar said that National Conference will continue to strive for equitable and inclusive development of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh and seek lasting peace. He said the party is striving for enhancing the vistas of opportunities to each section of the population, especially youth and women. He said all round development, permanent peace, public empowerment and youth and women welfare are the basic pillars of National Conference’s political agenda.
“You have witnessed the work done by the National Conference Government during the last six years on power generation, employment creation, skill development, women and youth welfare, upgradation of health, road communication, water supply, industries and entrepreneurship development sectors”, he said and added that National Conference will continue to work for achieving new goals in these fields.
He asked the people to support and vote in great numbers in favour of National Conference candidates to safeguard their pluralistic ethos, brotherhood and amity besides ensuring prosperity, peace and economic self-reliance of the State.
Provincial President and National Conference candidate Devender Singh Rana also spoke on the occasion. He said being foot soldier of the party, he will strive for transforming the constituency as Nava Jammu.
He spelled out the initiative taken over the years in putting the constituency on fast track development.
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