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Modi wants to win elections at the cost of Kashmiris: Omar

MAJID NABI. Dated: 2/22/2019 6:18:02 PM

SRINAGAR, Feb 21: Lamenting the incidents of violence against Kashmiris in parts of India, National Conference vice president, Omar Abdullah today asserted that Prime Minister, Narendra Modi wants to win elections at the cost of the lives of Kashmiri people.
The former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir while addressing media here took potshots at the opposition congress party and the ruling regime for maintaining silence over the “brutality” meted out to the Kashmiri students and traders in parts of India.
“It would be deplorable for the entire country, If Prime Minister wants to sacrifice Kashmiri nation to win elections. Even the Congress party which seeks support to keep such forces away also maintained silence on the issue,” said the NC leader.
Accusing the right-wing BJP of exploiting Pulwama incident for political gains, Omar said Kashmiri students and the businessmen are being targeted under a well thought-out conspiracy outside state.
He said neither the PM nor did the Home Minister speak a single word about the issues confronting Kashmiri people at the moment.
“Suppose PM could not make any statement being busy, but what made the Home Minister of India to maintain silence on the issue as he also did not say a single word,” he added.
NC vice president also regretted the statement of the Governor of Meghalaya who had endorsed some retired army officer’s call of boycott “everything Kashmiri" in the aftermath of the militant attack in Pulwama last week
He, however, thanked Sikh community for supporting Kashmiri’s regardless of their religious or regional affiliations. He said the Sikh community kept the doors of their Gurudwara’s open for Kashmiri people.
“I condemn the people who issued threats but at the same time wants to thanks to those who extended help to our people especially Sikhs who stood with our people in this hour of crises be it CM of Punjab Captain Amarinder or West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee who didn’t spare the guilty,” said Omar.
He also asked the Governor Satyapal Malik to arrange temporary colleges and universities for those students who had to return valley after being expelled by from the colleges and universities in different parts of India.
“Their academic year should not be wasted. They should be taken care of until we will be able to restore normalcy and persuade them to join their colleges back till than Governor should arrange temporary colleges and universities for them anywhere in the valley,” said he.
Replying to a query whether the incidents which happened recently will alienate Kashmiri people, he said, “of course alienation will increase when signboards saying that everyone except Kashmiri are allowed in hotels will be put on display.”
He said the alienation is expected when travel agents make conspiracies to send tourists to other states and not Kashmir.
He said had the way governor in haste withdrawn security of everyone overnight had used the same pen for the students, their future would also have been saved.
Regarding Pakistan Prime Minister, Imran Khan’s dialogue offer to India, Omar said dialogue is good but the Pulwama like incidents should also stop.
“On one hand Pak PM talks about dialogue while on the other Pulwama like incidents occur. We also support dialogue and want issues to be resolved through dialogue,” he added.
On withdrawal of the security of separatist leaders, he said the ramifications and implications of this withdrawal will have to wait the scene.
“Leaders like Mirwaiz Moulvi Farooq and Abdul Gani Lone who were assassinated by the militants helped in favor of a negotiated and dialogue-based solution to the problem of J&K. therefore provision of security to them or to separatist was the considered decision of the government of all political leanings whether it be BJP led or Congress led governments,”
He said it is for the government to explain as to how they will deal with the fallout of the security withdrawal of separatist leadership.
“My concern is about withdrawal of security to mainstream political operatives, on one hand you tell us to be ready for upcoming Parliamentary and Assembly elections while on the other says you no longer deserve protection of the state,” he added.
He said that the withdrawal of security cover from the political operatives and office bearers is hugely regressive step.
“Shah Faesal is also in the list. Governor’s administration needs to revisit its decision. If the decision of withdrawal of security from political operatives is not rolled back, we will approach court and ask for the files and papers,” said Omar.