Pulwama: National Conference vice-president Omar Abdullah on Wednesday attacked the BJP-led Central government saying that it has harmed the relation between Jammu and Kashmir and the rest of the country with its decision to abrogate the Article 370 provisions.
The NC leader, while speaking to media persons here, said that no one here was happy with the decision to revoke the special status of the erstwhile state.
“There is no doubt that they did it and they have hurt the sentiments of people while doing it. The promises made to Jammu and Kashmir were not promises made by one leader sitting in Delhi or a party, but it was the country that made promises to the people of J&K. The bond was not between two persons in Delhi and J&K, it was a link between the country and this state,” Abdullah said.
He further said that people will show their unhappiness with the decisions when Assembly elections are held in Jammu and Kashmir.
“The bond was not between a person in Delhi and J&K, it was a link between a country with this state. If they think that harming this bond deserves congratulations, then let them congratulate each other. The truth is that people in Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh are not happy with the steps taken on August 05, 2019. This was proved in Kargil (LAHDC polls). It was proved in DDC (District Development Council) polls and if they conduct Assembly elections here, it would be proved again,” he added.
Hitting out at the Centre for not conducting the elections in the region, Omar Abdullah alleged that a “fixed match” is being played.
“It is the right of the people of J&K to use their vote and elect their leaders. We are being kept away from this. A fixed match is being played – when you ask the Election Commission (about elections in J&K), it points at the Centre, and when we ask the Centre, it points towards EC,” the NC leader said.
Further asserting that the delay in holding Assembly elections in the Union territory was taking Jammu and Kashmir on the path of destruction, Abdullah said that people of the region are being deprived of their right to vote.
“It’s taking the region towards destruction. People have been deprived of their right to vote since 2014,” he said.