J&K Assembly Elections on Track, NC Ready for Polls, Says Omar Abdullah
Srinagar, 04-07-2024 : National Conference (NC) Vice President Omar Abdullah recently called on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to reconsider its approach, urging the party to stop acting as if it had secured an overwhelming victory of 400 seats in the Lok Sabha elections. Addressing reporters following the conclusion of a two-day meeting of the NC’s working committee, Abdullah responded to questions regarding the treatment of opposition members in Parliament. He asserted that in a democracy, everyone has the right to express their views freely.
Abdullah expressed his discontent with the expunction of parts of speeches delivered by opposition leaders in the Lok Sabha, deeming it an unfavorable practice. Citing an example, he noted that Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi, the NC’s Srinagar MP, had part of his speech expunged after the election of the Speaker because the Speaker was displeased. Similarly, a portion of the Leader of Opposition’s speech was expunged at the BJP’s insistence. Abdullah criticized this trend, emphasizing that in a democratic setup, such actions undermine the right of individuals to express their opinions.
He stressed that unless a member’s speech contains abusive or inappropriate language, it should not be expunged from the records. Abdullah reminded the BJP that despite their rhetoric about securing 400 seats, they did not surpass 240. He advised the BJP to adopt a more modest attitude, given their actual seat count in the Lok Sabha. Abdullah expressed hope that opposition members would not continue to face such treatment in Parliament.
In his first speech as the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi had launched a fierce critique of the BJP, accusing the ruling party of sowing division along communal lines. Some of Gandhi’s remarks during the discussion on the Motion of Thanks on the President’s address were later expunged. Gandhi subsequently wrote to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, arguing that the selective expunction of his comments was illogical and requested their restoration.
Abdullah also addressed the controversy surrounding the Agniveer scheme, which he identified as a significant factor in the BJP’s reduced seat count in the general elections. He argued that the scheme had been rejected by voters in regions with high recruitment into the armed forces, ultimately contributing to the BJP’s losses. Abdullah urged the BJP to acknowledge the electoral mandate, scrap the Agniveer scheme, and replace it with a more acceptable alternative.
Rahul Gandhi recently accused Defence Minister Rajnath Singh of lying in Parliament about compensation for families of deceased Agniveers, demanding an apology. Gandhi shared a video of a father of a deceased Agniveer claiming that, contrary to Singh’s statement of Rs 1 crore compensation, his family had received no such assistance. Later, the Indian Army clarified that the family had received Rs 98.39 lakh out of the due amount, rejecting claims made in social media posts.
When questioned about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s omission of Jammu and Kashmir in discussions about upcoming assembly elections in other states, Abdullah expressed confidence that elections in the union territory would be held on schedule. He referred to the Prime Minister’s recent visit to Jammu and Kashmir, where Modi assured that elections would soon take place, enabling the people to elect their government. Abdullah highlighted the Election Commission’s ongoing preparations and the Home Minister’s assurance that the election process would be completed before the Supreme Court’s deadline, affirming his belief that there was no reason to doubt the forthcoming elections.
Regarding the possibility of the NC forming a pre-poll alliance with its INDIA bloc partners, Abdullah stated that this decision would be made by the party president, Farooq Abdullah. The party would abide by whatever decision he deemed best.
Commenting on the reported remarks of Jammu and Kashmir Police chief R R Swain, suggesting that those found assisting militants should be tried under the Enemy Agents Ordinance, Abdullah contended that such measures would not be imposed on the populace once elections were held, and Jammu and Kashmir had its own government.
During the NC’s working committee meeting, discussions centered on the prevailing political situation in Jammu and Kashmir, strategies to strengthen the party organization, and preparations for the upcoming elections. Abdullah’s remarks underscore the ongoing political discourse in the region, highlighting the importance of democratic principles and the need for respectful treatment of all political voices within the legislative framework.
