Srinagar, May 22: National Conference vice president Omar Abdullah on Wednesday expressed disappointment on former Ghulam Nabi Azad’s departure from Congress, saying the former union minister not being on the national stage is a loss for the Muslim community.
Omar was speaking at a public gathering in Pahalgam while campaigning for the party’s candidate for the Anantnag-Rajouri constituency Mian Altaf.
He voiced concerns over the absence of prominent Muslim leaders on the national stage. “There is a need for strong national-level Muslim leadership to provide reassurance to the Muslim community across the country,” he said.
Omar pointed out that Ghulam Nabi Azad, who left Congress to form the Democratic Azad Party (DAP) in August 2022, could have been a key leader. “However, Azad’s influence is now largely confined to the Chenab Valley. Azad not being on the national stage is a loss for the Muslim community, especially when they are facing a brutal onslaught from the BJP,” he said.
“He (Azad) would have been at the forefront of the Congress campaign and leadership. We lack many national-level Muslim leaders, and his absence is felt deeply,” Abdullah said.
The former chief minister criticised the Bharatiya Janata Party’s campaign strategy, which he claimed focuses on religious polarisation. He cited various issues being used to divide communities, including attacks related to Mangalsutra, the Babri Masjid, and the Ram Mandir.
“Muslims are being unjustly accused of wanting to bulldoze the Ram Mandir. This is the time when a national-level Muslim leader is needed to provide reassurance,” he added.
Turning his attention to local politics, Abdullah criticised the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for its alliance with the BJP, which he believes facilitated the abrogation of Article 370.
The NC leader accused the PDP of laying the groundwork for the BJP’s influence in Jammu and Kashmir. “The PDP helped the BJP lay its base here for 3.5 years. How can they now claim to safeguard Article 370?” he questioned.
He challenged the PDP’s claim of contesting elections on behalf of the INDIA bloc, pointing out their silence against the BJP. “This election has been going on for two months. Show me one instance where the PDP has spoken against the BJP,” he asserted.
Reflecting on the post-2014 assembly elections scenario, Omar said that if the PDP had accepted support from the National Conference (NC) and Congress instead of allying with the BJP, the situation in Jammu and Kashmir would have been different. “Our flag and constitution would still be there, and we would not have faced such disrespect and defamation,” he added.
