New Delhi: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Sunday renewed his party’s demand for the restoration of statehood, questioning the Bharatiya Janata Party’s objection to the National Conference’s proposed protest in New Delhi.
Addressing the party’s ‘Chalo Delhi’ rally in Jammu, Abdullah asked where his party should raise the issue if it was being criticised for planning a demonstration at Jantar Mantar. He remarked that if seeking justice in the country’s capital was not acceptable, the BJP should clarify where the demand for statehood should be made.
The National Conference has intensified its campaign for the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood, asserting that the issue remains a key commitment that the Centre must fulfil.
Abdullah also responded to criticism over reports that Mirwaiz Umar Farooq had been invited to participate in the proposed protest. He questioned what he described as contradictory claims by the BJP, pointing out that the party had repeatedly stated that separatism had ended in Jammu and Kashmir while simultaneously referring to Mirwaiz as a separatist.
The Chief Minister further accused the BJP of attempting to weaken opposition parties through political defections, alleging that similar strategies had been adopted in several states across the country. Referring to what the BJP itself has described as “Operation Lotus,” he claimed such efforts were used when electoral victories proved difficult.
His remarks came a day after BJP leaders rejected allegations that attempts had been made to lure National Conference legislators to switch sides. The BJP had accused Abdullah of making baseless claims regarding offers of large sums of money to party MLAs.
Reiterating his party’s stand, Abdullah said the National Conference would continue its democratic movement for the restoration of statehood and urged the Union government to honour its commitment to the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
Sorry, there was a YouTube error.
