Srinagar, Dec 03: Jammu and Kashmir National Conference Vice President Omar Abdullah on Sunday said that “democracy ends where J&K begins”.
Addressing a zonal workers’ one-day convention at Tikri in Udhampur, Omar said, “There was very little for the people to rejoice over the victory of others in the elections held across various states in the country because it has been years now since the locals have seen elections in J&K. We can only see the spectacle in other states but we cannot have it here. Democracy ends where J&K begins.”
Taking a swipe at the Central government, the former chief minister said that people who blow the trumpet of democracy across the world do not allow it to come here. “They have shown that they not just hate the idea of assembly but panchayats and ULBs as well. It’s no wonder that they might wind up DDC councils as well. After all, what is the fault of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, that they are being deprived of their democratic right and they are not even being given the opportunity to elect their assembly?”
“On the contrary, crownless kings have been imposed on us, who take decisions related to Jammu and Kashmir but do not involve the people in these decisions,” he added.
He also criticised the Central government and BJP leaders for “misleading” the country on the issue of Article 370. “Our people particularly landless, poor, and workers irrespective of their religious and regional affiliations have reaped the benefits of Article 370 while its abrogation hasn’t yielded any benefit. People are only suffering,” he said.
He said, “Today youth are asking for employment, but the government is not paying any attention to this. We also ruled that if we could not eliminate unemployment completely, but we did not close the doors of employment. But today everything has come to a grinding halt. Today hardly any contract is given to a local contractor, otherwise, most of the contracts and works are given to outsiders, the material also comes from outside and workers are also brought from outside.”
The NC leader said that lithium has been found in the mountains of Reasi; however, the people will be brought from outside to extract it. He also slammed the government for the dismal state of electricity and other basic facilities. “These people are way ahead while installing meters but failure and incompetence have become their hallmark while supplying electricity,” he said.
