Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 20: Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson and former MLC, Girdhari Lal Raina, has criticized Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s recent remarks about the voting choices of the Jammu region.
According to Raina, Omar Abdullah, while addressing National Conference (NC) workers at the party’s headquarters in Jammu, expressed shock over the region’s support for the BJP despite any discontent.
Raina responded by stating that only true nationalists can understand the sentiments of the people of Jammu, adding that the National Conference and its leaders have consistently failed to appreciate the region’s patriotic spirit.
He accused NC of being unable to grasp these emotions since its rise to power in 1947 and criticized the party for its historical actions, including denigrating Maharaja Hari Singh during the 1947-48 period.
Raina also recalled how Omar Abdullah, through a controversial tweet featuring a photo of his grandfather Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, had hurt the sentiments of the people of Jammu a few years ago.
He further highlighted Omar Abdullah’s communal remarks during the Amarnath land row and his criticism of the G20 meeting in Srinagar, suggesting that Abdullah’s discomfort stemmed from Jammu being left out of the event’s itinerary.
The BJP spokesperson pointed out that even in the recent elections, the majority of the voters in Kashmir rejected the NC, questioning how Jammu could be expected to support a party with a narrow and sectarian focus.
Raina urged the new Chief Minister to prioritize governance and avoid repeating the discriminatory policies toward Jammu seen during previous NC-led administrations.
Raina concluded by cautioning the public to remain vigilant against insincere political rhetoric and superficial promises.