Former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today asked the National Conference (NC) cadre to gear up for fresh Assembly elections in the wake of the failure of the PDP and the BJP to form the government in the state.
“God willing, fresh Assembly elections will be held and you have to be ready to fight it. We have to create a new army of workers to fight the elections,” Omar said during the NC’s youth convention here.
The NC working president said after Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed’s death on January 7, people were given to hear that government would be formed after his ‘chaharum’ (4th day of his death), then after the 40th day of his death and then after the Union Budget will be announced in Parliament. “Every time, people expected that an announcement on government formation will be made but you (PDP) failed them. Now, I want to ask the BJP and the PDP to either form the government, and if they are not ready for it, then please tell Governor NN Vohra to dissolve the Legislative Assembly to pave the way for fresh elections,” he said.
Omar took a jibe at the PDP leaders for allowing the BJP to enter into Kashmir, saying it had sought votes against it in the previous elections. He also ruled out extending support to the PDP to form the government in the state. “We had extended our support to the PDP to keep the BJP away from Kashmir but late Mufti Sayeed without waiting for a minute rejected our offer. Now, the question of making a fresh offer doesn’t arise because the BJP has made entry into Kashmir. The RSS branches are in Srinagar…. Had Mufti accepted our offer then, the state would not have been in such a situation today,” he said.
He alleged that the NC was being targeted for bringing a road map for the resolution of the Kashmir issue. “We have talked about internal autonomy and see a resolution to the Kashmir issue in it but we didn’t say it is final. If anybody can achieve more or less, let him. We have no objection but why is NC being targeted for bringing a road map to resolve this issue?” Omar asked.
While saying that Jammu and Kashmir is not an economic issue, Omar alleged that the PDP had dumped the Kashmir issue for power.
“We have repeatedly said Kashmir is not an issue of money but a political issue. Its solution can’t be hired through money. Today, these inkpot people (PDP) soothe their hearts by seeking economic packages from the Centre. Where is their political agenda? They were talking of self-rule and introducing Pakistani currency in J&K and today they say no Prime Minister is better than Narendra Modi, whose Member of Parliament says the BJP will have to prepare for the last war against Muslims,” he said.
Omar said PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti was saying her party’s relation with the BJP was strong and the BJP government at the Centre had kept Rs 9,000 crore aside for J&K in the Union Budget.
“Policemen are joining militants and youth picking up guns. Kashmiri youth are being looked upon with suspicion outside the state and they (PDP) talk of Rs 9,000 crore. Have you (PDP) joined hands with the BJP for Rs 9,000 crore? Is this our worth?” he asked the PDP.
Get ready for Assembly polls: Omar
