UDHAMPUR/JAMMU, Sept 27: Omar Abdullah, Vice President of the National Conference (NC), has taken a strong stance against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), holding them accountable for the resurgence of terrorism in the Jammu region. Speaking at a public rally, Omar stated that the recent spate of terror attacks in an otherwise peaceful Jammu clearly demonstrates the BJP’s failure in handling the security situation. He asserted that instead of passing the blame onto opposition parties like the NC, Congress, and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), the BJP should seek forgiveness from the people of Jammu and Kashmir for failing to prevent the resurgence of militancy.
Omar pointed to the growing violence across Jammu, highlighting terror attacks in regions such as the Chenab Valley, Pir Panjal, Reasi, Kathua, Udhampur, and Samba, and questioned why terrorism has escalated, particularly since 2014. He emphasized that the BJP’s governance, especially in the last three years, has coincided with an alarming rise in militancy in the Jammu region, a trend that was previously under control. “There is not a single place in Jammu where terror attacks have not taken place. This is a clear reflection of their failure,” he said, demanding that the BJP accept its responsibility and seek the people’s forgiveness for allowing the region to slip into a state of insecurity.
At a rally in support of NC candidate Sunil Verma in the Udhampur East assembly segment, Omar responded to Home Minister Amit Shah’s earlier accusations, where the BJP blamed the NC, Congress, and PDP for the growth of terrorism in the region. Omar accused the BJP of adopting a contradictory stance by blaming the opposition within Jammu and Kashmir, while holding Pakistan responsible for terrorism when speaking to the national audience. “They blame us for terrorism when speaking within J&K, but outside the Union Territory, they shift the blame to Pakistan. By doing this, they are giving Pakistan a free pass while misleading the public,” he said.
Omar’s remarks were particularly focused on the inconsistency in the BJP’s narrative, questioning why the government had not initiated talks with Pakistan if they truly believed that the opposition was responsible for the situation. “You blame us from within J&K but refuse to hold Pakistan accountable in a meaningful way. This contradictory stance only serves to confuse and mislead the public,” Omar added.
He took a further dig at the BJP’s handling of Jammu and Kashmir, specifically addressing the saffron party’s criticism of his party’s election manifesto. The NC leader remarked, “It is not surprising that the BJP would oppose our manifesto—they are fighting against us in these elections. But what is interesting is the national discussion our manifesto has sparked. We are a small regional party, yet nearly every Union minister and BJP leader has felt compelled to comment on our policies. For that, I thank them.”
Omar’s comments were also a reflection of his confidence in his party’s electoral strategy. He noted that despite the BJP targeting him and his party, their internal performance in the elections had been lackluster. He claimed that BJP candidates, including high-profile figures like J&K BJP chief Ravinder Raina, were facing a tough electoral battle, indicating the party’s nervousness. “There was no special performance by the BJP in the first two phases of the assembly elections, and their internal reports show that their candidates are struggling. They are clearly worried, which is why they are focusing so much on attacking us,” he said.
He also dismissed the BJP’s rhetoric that terrorism would resurge if the NC came to power. Omar reminded the public that before 2014, under NC’s leadership, terrorism had been significantly reduced in Jammu and the region was largely peaceful. However, under the BJP’s watch, terrorism has made a comeback. He said, “The BJP claims that terrorism will return if we are in power, but it is under their rule that terrorism has thrived. We eradicated terrorism from Jammu, but the double-engine government has facilitated its return.”
Omar further criticized the BJP’s divisive politics, accusing them of exploiting religious sentiments for electoral gain. He referenced the attacks on pilgrims, notably the attack on Amarnath pilgrims in 2017 during the BJP-PDP government, and the more recent attack on Shiv Khori pilgrims in June 2024. “The BJP claims to protect religious pilgrimage routes, but the reality is that these attacks have happened under their rule. Their inability to prevent such attacks speaks volumes about their failure,” Omar said.
The NC leader also addressed the broader socio-political climate, accusing the BJP of dividing people along religious lines while neglecting the pressing issues of unemployment and economic growth in Jammu and Kashmir. “Apart from dividing the people on religious grounds, the BJP has done little to improve the economic situation in J&K. Unemployment is growing, and the region’s development has been severely hampered by their ineffective governance,” he charged.
Omar Abdullah concluded his remarks by urging the people of Jammu and Kashmir to stand united against the BJP’s divisive politics and to support secular forces in the upcoming elections. “The BJP knows nothing except how to divide people. It is time for the people to reject these divisive policies and instead strengthen the forces of secularism that will ensure the unity and progress of Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.
With 40 seats still up for grabs in the final phase of the elections, Omar accused the BJP of trying to preemptively influence the outcome, noting that the Home Minister had already made statements predicting the results before the polling had even concluded. “How can they be so sure of the results when voting is still ongoing? It seems they are trying to mislead the public and create a false narrative about their success,” Omar remarked, highlighting the BJP’s desperate tactics in the face of electoral uncertainty.