Omar Abdullah: Peace in Jammu and Kashmir Hinges on BJP’s Departure from Power
26-06-2023 : During his visit to South Kashmir, Omar Abdullah, the former Chief Minister and Vice President of the National Conference (NC), expressed his belief that peace cannot be restored to Jammu and Kashmir as long as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) remains in power. He emphasized that the presence of the BJP at the central government level hinders the return of peace in the region.
Omar Abdullah stated unequivocally to reporters, “As long as the BJP is in power at the Centre, peace will not be restored in Jammu and Kashmir.” He further elaborated on his point by highlighting the resurgence of militancy in areas where the government had considered lifting the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in 2014, as those areas were believed to be free from militancy. According to Omar Abdullah, the presence of the BJP has led to a reemergence of militancy in these previously stable regions.
The former Chief Minister also expressed concern about the spread of militancy to Poonch and Rajouri, stating that there is no area in Kashmir, including Srinagar, where militancy is not observed today. Omar Abdullah pointed to recent incidents in Rajouri and Poonch as evidence of the renewed emergence of militancy in areas where it was previously absent. He stressed that as long as the BJP remains in power, it will be challenging to eradicate militancy from these regions.
Omar Abdullah mentioned the Patna opposition meeting and its significance, stating that only the 2024 elections will determine if it was merely a photo opportunity or if it will lead to substantial changes. He highlighted the reaction of the Home Minister of India, who is considered the second most powerful leader in the country, as an indicator of the meeting’s importance.
In response to the boycott decision in the previous Panchayat elections, Omar Abdullah declared that the NC will actively participate in all future elections and strive for victory. He called for a thorough investigation into the Pulwama incident, arguing that it is evident that the incident occurred based on the testimony of the imam. Omar Abdullah emphasized that the incident took place in two mosques, not just one, and demanded that the government investigate the matter and take strict action against those involved.
