JK News Today
Talk to those willing to engage: Omar to Delhi
Kishtwar, November 24
National Conference President Dr. Farooq Abdullah on Thursday said that the PDP-BJP Government had been rendered completely defunct in Kashmir and its writ was being questioned on a daily basis by quarters it had tried to appease and then suppress.
“Such is the writ of the Government in the Valley that the business establishments, transport, schools and every sphere of activity is running as per weekly protest schedules and calendars”, Dr Abdullah said while addressing a huge workers rally at Kishtwar this afternoon.
Dr. Farooq Abdullah said Mehbooba Mufti should not misrepresent signs of normalcy and activity in the Valley as an alleged restoration of normalcy as all such activities were being carried out according to the weekly schedules being issues by Hurriyat leaders.
“Mehbooba Mufti should see writing on the wall and understand that mass discontent is not only due to the complete refusal of the Government to acknowledge the Kashmir issue but also because of the PDP’s betrayal to those who voted and supported it during the 2014 elections”, the NC President said
While referring to the anti-BJP plank of the PDP during electioneering and its subsequent U-turns in its run up to forging an alliance with the BJP he said, “PDP instilled fear among voters about a looming threat and danger of the BJP making inroads into Kashmir but ironically changed its colours with the sole aim of attaining political power at the cost of its ideology and promises.
Dr Abdullah said that political opportunism and breach of the peoples’ trust would have serious implications for PDP. In such a scenario, the strengthening of National Conference at the grassroots assumes an added significance to meet the challenges faced by the State. He said National Conference was not guided blindly for the sole goal of power but its unflinching political philosophy to safeguard the honour and dignity of the people and to uphold the unity and integrity of the State with opportunities of progress to all, irrespective of caste, creed, colour or regional affiliation.
Addressing the workers, former Chief Minister and Working President National Conference Omar Abdullah sought an immediate engagement between New Delhi and all stakeholders in Kashmir willing to talk to the Centre for bringing an end to political uncertainty and to look for a lasting solution. He reiterated that Kashmir was a political issue and needed a practical and sustainable political solution that could be reached only by engaging all the stakeholders in a meaningful dialogue.
Omar asked New Delhi to “acknowledge the resentment and anguish in the Valley and realize that there is an ocean of mistrust and anger that keeps snowballing into such agitations and and mass unrest.”
Expressing concern over the continued unrest in the Valley for the past over four months and expressing profound grief over the loss of young lives, Omar Abdullah blamed Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti for the prolonged political uncertainty and turmoil in the Valley. “PDP had been blaming me for the 2010 uprising and the tragic loss of lives while they were in the opposition and now by the same logic of culpability she should own up the responsibility of over 90 deaths, blinding of hundreds of boys and girls and injuries to over 10,000 old, young and women”, Omar said.
The Working President asked the PDP chief, “What have you done for engaging all stakeholders in the dialogue process or facilitating New Delhi to talk to Pakistan”, he asked and referred to the party’s ‘Agenda of Alliance’ with the BJP. “What happened to the promise of releasing political prisoners? Today you have filled all jails with young boys and are issuing more PSA orders than at any time in the recent past”, he added.
