National Conference Vice President and former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday dared BJP to declare its chief ministerial candidate for Jammu and Kashmir ahead of elections to Legislative Assembly as well as slammed the party for threatening NIA, CBI action against its legislators before dissolution of assembly.
“The BJP’s bravado to have its own chief minister from Jammu fell flat twice, first by stitching alliance with 28-member PDP in 2015 and later while unsuccessfully attempting to form the government by surrendering before a party with two MLAs from North Kashmir”, Omar said while addressing NC District and Block Presidents and Secretaries of the Jammu region at Sher-e-Kashmir Bhavan on Monday afternoon.
The NC Vice President slammed the BJP for threatening senior MLAs of NIA and CBI action against them in a bid to buy their support before dissolution of the assembly.
“This too did not work for them. The reports were substantiated by the statement issued by the Governor about horse-trading in the State, he said, adding that the BJP’s overt and covert attempts were assault on democracy.
“With which face the BJP will now go to the electors of Jammu in upcoming elections, who know that after seeking their mandate they will again fall in the trap and lap of a few MLAs from Kashmir to share the power,” Omar said, hoping that the sagacious voters of Jammu will show them their place for having deceived them during nearly three and half years of misgovernance— full of corruption, chaos and mess.
The NC Vice President said the BJP was rattled over imminent defeat and rejection by the people of Jammu and was in the look out of alibis on security front to have the elections delayed. “How can the situation be conducive for holding the ULB and ongoing Panchayat polls with minimal voter participation in many areas and not the assembly elections”, he asked, saying the same BJP will find the situation quite right when it comes to elections to Lok Sabha. He called for early elections and handing over the reins of governance to people.
Referring to NC support to PDP and Congress before the dissolution of assembly, Omar said this was a hard decision that had been taken in the larger interests of the state and the people, as the proposed BJP partnered government would have indulged in weakening the constitutional position of Jammu and Kashmir and dividing its people on the basis of region and religion. He said those who claimed coming together of the three parties at the behest of Pakistan had to eat up their own words.
In a lighter vein, he rubbished the claims about government formation decision having been taken at Dubai or London and said the people know well who staked the claim for formation of government from London. He said the BJP has let down Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh and referred to the resignation of the MP from Leh in protest against false promises made with the people of Ladakh region.
Omar exhorted the cadre to gear up for elections, saying National Conference will go alone without forging any alliance. He said a single party government alone can meet the challenges confronted to the state, adding that his party will give a strong and stable government at the strength of the peoples’ massive support and NC’s presence in every nook and corner of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh. He also urged the workers not to go on rumours of rotation of reserved seats in the Jammu region, as the Governor had assured the party delegation recently about no such move under the consideration of the government.
Exuding confidence about massive victory, the NC Vice President said Jammu and Ladakh will have to hugely contribute to the strength of National Conference in giving a responsive and accountable government.
Omar said the process for selection of candidates has begun and the National Conference will plunge into elections with two pronged strategy. First, to expose the PDP-BJP government’s failure on all fronts and, second to spell out the priorities of the party in heralding peace and ensuring fast track development. He said National Conference has a track record of public service and it has never played with the sentiments of the people, unlike the BJP by generating passions on regional and religious issues.
On the BJP’s communal plank, the National Conference Vice President said that an atmosphere of fear and mistrust is being created across the country. He said passions are being generated over the issue of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya before the general elections.
The Convention was also addressed by NC General Secretary Mr Ali Mohammed Sagar, Additional General Secretary Dr Sheikh Mustafa Kamal and Provincial President Mr Devender Singh Rana.
General Secretary Sagar lambasted BJP for making frivolous allegations against the NC, saying this is a mass movement that has given more than 5,000 sacrifices during the past three decades. He said National Conference alone can bring peace and normalcy in Jammu and Kashmir and ensure its progress and development by providing equal opportunities to the people of all the regions and sub-regions.
Dr Sheikh Mustafra Kamal cautioned against the machinations of divisive forces, saying attempts were being made to trifurcate the state. “We have to maintain vigil against all such sinister machinations”, he added.
BJP Seeks Proof Or Public Apology
The Jammu and Kashmir unit of the BJP Monday described as “serious” the statement by National Conference vice-president Omar Abdullah that some MLAs were threatened by investigating agencies during an unsuccessful attempt by the two-member Peoples Conference to form a government in the state.
“Dragging the names of the country’s prestigious investigation agencies like the NIA and the CBI in the alleged threatening of MLAs is a serious matter and Omar Abdullah should come out with proof or seek public apology for indulging in such level of politics,” state BJP president Ravinder Raina said.
Raina was reacting to a statement by the former chief minister who had earlier alleged that several MLAs were threatened to join the Sajad Lone-led group.
Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik had abruptly dissolved the Assembly on November 21 after the PDP staked claim to form a government with the backing of rival NC and the Congress. This was followed by another bid from Lone which claimed the support of the BJP and 18 legislators from other parties.
“I can say with authority that the MLAs got threats from agencies. One MLA was told that either be part of the government for two years or prepare for arrest by NIA. Another senior MLA was threatened that a CBI case against him will be opened. This is the problem those who are not able to come from the front door, are trying to grab the power by breaking the backdoor like a thief,” Omar said at a party function here.
