Srinagar, Sept 19: National Conference (NC) vice president Omar Abdullah on Thursday said the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has always focused on attacking three political families in Jammu & Kashmir rather than presenting any substantive achievements.
He was responding to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s remarks during an election rally in Srinagar where he accused the National Conference, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Congress of bringing devastating to J&K.
Speaking to reporters at Budgam, Omar questioned the BJP’s record over the past five years, asserting that the party has failed to offer any notable accomplishments. He expressed scepticism about the Prime Minister’s remarks, saying, “I don’t know what Modi said today in Srinagar, but I can guarantee that his focus was on attacking the three families rather than addressing the issues plaguing Jammu & Kashmir.”
He criticised Modi for his “lack of engagement” with parliamentary questions, saying that the Prime Minister has not answered any parliamentary questions recently, while they, as elected representatives, are committed to addressing all queries transparently.
The former chief minister also claimed that the NC received significant support in the first phase of the elections
Responding to comments made by Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif, who suggested alignment between Pakistan and NC, PDP and Congress, Abdullah dismissed the relevance of such remarks. “Khawaja Asif has no bearing on our political matters,” he said.
He called for Pakistan to focus on its own issues and not interfere in Indian elections. “J&K’s democratic process should remain unaffected by external influences,” he added.
Meanwhile, according to a statement issued by NC, Omar in his address in Budgam said the solution to people’s “hardships” lies within the hands of the people themselves. “On the 25th of September, all it takes is a simple click on the NC symbol. This action holds the key to addressing and resolving the multitude of issues that continue to plague our people,” he said.
The former CM said the ongoing elections carry “immense” significance as they will “reflect the sentiments of Kashmiris towards the decisions that have threatened their identity”. “Therefore, if you wish to send a clear message to the world that these decisions were unacceptable, the time to act is now. It is the time to stand up, make your voice heard, and take action for the betterment of Kashmir and its people. The power lies within your hands – use it wisely,” he added.
