Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, May 1: National Conference vice president Omar Abdullah today said that the party is privy to the anger and despair that writ large on the face of people in Pulwama and asked them to vote against those who exploited their ballot.
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Addressing a public meet at party headquarters Mujahid Manzil in Pulwama, Omar said that little did the people of Pulwama know that those who they had voted for will exploit their votes to grind their own axe and to wield the power.
“The people of Pulwama came out in large numbers to cast their votes in 2014 elections to secure better future for their children, for development. However nothing of that sort happened, on the contrary we see gloom writ large on the faces of the people of Pulwama. The party, who you voted for, berated and belittled your mandate to ascend the altar of power”, the NC vice president said.
The former Chief Minister said that people of Pulwama wanted development, peace and brotherhood but they got hopelessness. “The people of Pulwama always wanted to be the part of the developmental process, wanted peace and brotherhood. Wanted to earn with dignity. The hopelessness around is the result of what has been happening with Pulwama for last 5 years; it is reflected in their utter disinterest in the ongoing elections process”, he said.
“They used to say that we will change the face of Pulwama with the help of its production of milk; much was promised to the people of Pulwama, they were given nothing but betrayal, bloodshed, pain and agony. They were not given anything beyond this”, he said.
Omar said that the pluralistic and vivacious spirit of Pulwama was shattered by Cordon and Search Operations, crackdowns, blinding, arrests, and innumerable other torments. “Now an opportunity is tapping your door, you have to utilize it to show your rage to PDP for letting lose the mammoth of destruction in Pulwama by hobnobbing with BJP. You have to utilize this opportunity and not let it go un-utilized without expressing your anger on PDP through the use of ballot,” he said.
Omar while appreciating the people of Pulwama for upholding the spirit of inter communal camaraderie and tolerance said that people of Pulwama never allowed themselves to get swayed by communal strife. “The sanctimonious disposition of the people of Pulwama was exhibited at various instances be it re-construction of a temple or rescuing the Yatris,” he said.
“In 2016, when there was mayhem all around, people of Pulwama came to the rescue to yatris who met with an accident, they did not care about curfew that was imposed. They did not care about bullets; they rescued the injured yatris and took them to Srinagar for treatment”, the former Chief Minister said.
Omar asked people not to sit at home but cast ballots against those who betrayed them. “You people should not show your alienation by sitting in your homes; and by not casting ballots. Didn’t you participate in 2014 elections with enthusiasm, didn’t you cast ballots? You did. But what were you given in return? You had not voted for PSA, not for pellet guns, but that happened?
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