Omar Abdullah said – Revocation of Article 370 spoiled relations between J-K and the rest of the country.
Pulwama: National Conference vice president Omar Abdullah on Wednesday attacked the BJP-led central government, saying it has damaged relations between Jammu and Kashmir and the rest of the country with its decision to abrogate Article 370 provisions.
Speaking to media persons here, the NC leader said that no one there is happy with the decision to cancel the special status of the erstwhile state.
“There is no doubt that he did this and while doing so he hurt people’s sentiments. The promises made to Jammu and Kashmir were not made by a leader sitting in Delhi or by a party, but it was the country that made the promises.” For the people of Jammu and Kashmir. This bond was not between a person from Delhi and Jammu and Kashmir, it was a link between a country with this state,” Abdullah said.
He further said that when assembly elections are held in Jammu and Kashmir, people will show unhappiness with the decisions.
“This bond was not between a person from Delhi and Jammu and Kashmir, it was a bond between a country with this state. If they think that damaging this bond is worthy of congratulations, let them congratulate each other. The truth is that the people of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh are not happy with the steps taken on August 5, 2019. This was proved in Kargil (LAHDC elections). This was proved in the DDC (District Development Council) elections and if they hold assembly elections here, it will be proved again,” he added.
Hitting out at the Center for not holding elections in the region, Omar Abdullah alleged that a fixed match was being played.
“It is the right of the people of Jammu and Kashmir to use their vote and elect their leaders. We are being kept away from this. A certain match is being played – when you ask the Election Commission (about elections in Jammu and Kashmir), it points towards the Centre, and when we ask the Centre, it points towards the Election Commission. It does,” the NC leader said.
Further saying that the delay in holding assembly elections in the Union Territory is taking Jammu and Kashmir on the path of destruction, Abdullah said that the people of the region are being deprived of the right to vote.
“This is leading the region towards destruction,” he said. People have been deprived of the right to vote since 2014.”
This comes on a day when the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill and the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization (Amendment) Bill are being debated in the Lok Sabha.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday said the two bills on Jammu and Kashmir introduced in the Lok Sabha for approval are related to providing rights to those who faced injustice and were insulted and ignored.
The Home Minister further said that the Bill seeks to provide justice to those who were forced to become refugees in their own country.
“I am happy that during the entire discussion and debate on the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization (Amendment) Bill 2023, no member opposed the ‘element’ of the Bill.”
He said that there is a lot of difference between giving authority and giving authority respectfully.
“The Bill I have brought here is about providing justice and providing rights to those who have been wronged, insulted and neglected. In any society, those who are deprived should be brought forward. This is the basic spirit of the Constitution of India. But they have to be brought forward in such a way that their respect is not diminished. There is a big difference between giving authority and giving authority respectfully. So changing its name to Other Backward Classes instead of Weaker and Deprived Class is important,” he said.
The Center revoked the special status of Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370 on August 5, 2019, soon after the second term of the PM Modi-led government began.
Article 370, added to the Constitution on October 17, 1949, exempts Jammu and Kashmir from the Indian Constitution (except Article 1 and Article 370) and allows the state to make its own constitution.
