Srinagar, May 14: Omar Abdullah, Jammu and Kashmir National Conference Vice President and party’s candidate for the Baramulla Parliamentary seat, on Tuesday said those fighting elections on the symbols of apple, bat-ball and bucket have to answer why they are not raising their voice against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
“Are these people not seeing how the BJP is oppressing minorities, particularly Muslims? Are they not able to listen to the speeches of BJP leaders including the Prime Minister, in which the Hindus are being threatened that the Muslims will take away the ornaments of the Hindu women? Why are they avoiding speaking against the BJP?” Omar said while addressing election rallies in Uri and Sangrama in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district.
He said, “J&K is currently going through a critical period. While people are being evicted from their lands, our religion is being attacked daily, in some places it is a matter of uniform civil code, in some places a worshiper is being kicked while offering prayers. We are being taunted repeatedly and our emotions are being played with and all this is being done by BJP for its nefarious political interests.”
Criticising the People’s Conference, Abdullah said, “These people talk about dignity and development, meaning self-respect and development, but I fail to understand why don’t PC people have their founding father’s pic on their flags and posters? A person who doesn’t respect his father, how can an ordinary person expect respect from him?”
“Has he (PC chief Saja Lone) spoken when injustice was done to Uri when cross-border trade was stopped here, when border tourism was stopped here, did this apple man speak at that time? He pretends to be the younger brother of Prime Minister (Narendra Modi), couldn’t he talk to his elder brother at that time and bring relief to the people of Uri? How is he asking you for votes today?” he said.
The NC leader further said that the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate who stood here as a Rajya Sabha member was absent every day when a vote against a BJP bill was to be voted on. “Nothing will be gained by tearing clothes and pretending. Will electricity come here by tearing clothes? Will tearing clothes get a job? Ask the person what did he do apart from tearing his clothes. Did they vote against the election of the Vice President and bills like triple talaq of the BJP?” he said.
Omar appealed to the people to exercise their right to vote wisely in the upcoming elections.
