Srinagar, Dec 09: Jammu and Kashmir National Conference Vice President Omar Abdullah on Saturday said that the party was not fighting to acquire power but restoration of people’s abridged democratic and constitutional rights.
Addressing a one-day workers’ convention at Devsar, Omar reiterated his stand, saying the party will continue its fight for the restoration of the “hard-earned rights” of the people of J&K.
“We are not fighting for power, we are fighting for the rights of our people. It’s people who matter to us, not power. We won’t barter our dignity for power and chair. Politics for us is not the means to acquire power, it’s a medium for us to protect the vital interests of our people & to serve them to the best of our capability. We won’t revert on our promises.”
The NC leader urged all the people associated with the party to remain committed to peaceful means. “I want to assure all your colleagues that whatever the decision of December 11 will be, our fight will not stop, we will not back down from our mission. We will continue to fight till we reach our destination,” he said.
“I have never seen such a period in my life in which the machinery of the government is being used against the political parties that it stands for. The National Conference has been at the forefront of rendering sacrifices for peace and democracy in Jammu and Kashmir and the honour and dignity of the people here,” he added.
On the J&K administration’s approach, the former chief minister said, “Today they are trying to scuttle our voice. When we speak, we ask for the rights of our people, when we talk, we talk about democracy, about elections and about the problems and difficulties faced by the people, so that the voice of the common people reaches the government. But here they find excuses to silence us. The verdict on Art 370 is scheduled to come on 11 December and only yesterday we were asked to cancel today’s program. On the 11th we had a program in Sangrama, however the government cancelled the permission. Not only that but my colleagues are already being told that they will not be allowed to leave their residences on the 11th. At least let the decision come first.”
He said that JKNC has always supported the Constitution and it has been our position that our fight will be peaceful.
Taking on the government at the Centre, Omar said that it is being said all over the world that the people of Jammu and Kashmir are very happy with the decisions of August 5, 2019. “When we ask people what they got after August 5, the answer is different. People across Jammu & Kashmir have a similar tale of disempowerment top share,” he said
