By-polls a fight for J&K’s political survival: Omar

Srinagar, Apr 03 : National Conference Working President Omar Abdullah on Monday said the upcoming parliamentary by-polls in the Valley amounted to a fight for J&K’s political survival and dignity in the face of a wave of anti-minority and anti-Kashmir fascism sweeping the country. Addressing a rousing public meeting at Magam, Beerwah, Omar Abdullah said J&K’s very identity, its flag and its special status was at stake since the very day PDP decided to align with the BJP and the RSS to attain political power in the State.
“The upcoming elections are not usual elections where we vote for local issues alone and are divided at times based on our smaller ideological differences. This election is about a larger battle of J&K’s political survival where our dignity and honour are at stake. The PDP-BJP Alliance has translated into unimaginable suffering and humiliation for the people of the State and there is no end to a systemic repression being orchestrated as per the agenda of the RSS”, Omar Abdullah said while addressing the impressive public meeting at Magam today.
Omar Abdullah highlighted various instances where the PDP-BJP Alliance had put the State’s political rights and special status in harm’s way and said various overt and covert attempts have been made to rob the State of its dignity in the past more than two years. “This is the same alliance which withdrew the circular to ensure the respect and dignity of our State flag and created panic and uncertainty in the State by failing to present a credible defence against various judicial attempts to abrogate Article 370 and extend various Central Laws to the State”, Omar Abdullah said while addressing the gathering.
“This election is an election where we have to choose our collective dignity as a resilient people over our humiliation by those who sold the 2014 mandate for the lure and temptation of building their own political careers. How can one forget how the same PDP sought votes against the BJP and promised to stop the march of communalism from entering the Valley? When they got our votes on this plank they didn’t waste a single day to sell this mandate and reach out to the BJP to start talks over power-sharing. As a result of this today our youth stands betrayed, exploited and more alienated than ever before”, Omar Abdullah said while addressing the public meeting.
The National Conference Working President said PDP is today in an alliance with a communally emboldened BJP which doesn’t hesitate to foist divisive and brazenly divisive people on important constitutional positions as an apparent reward for intimidating and harassing Muslims. “Doesn’t Mehbooba Ji see what is happening across the country today? How our mosques are being attacked and how minorities are living under threat and fear as their businesses are being shut and their places of worship targeted? Expecting reconciliation and engagement from those who believe in suppression and bullying is foolhardy and dangerous”, the National Conference Working President added.
“This is a time to unite and keep our smaller ideological difference at bay. National Conference and Congress came together in these elections to fight the bigger battle of dignity and honour against those who don’t respect our faith, our regional identity and our aspirations. Dr. Farooq Abdullah being a candidate in these by-elections is an indication of how important this battle is and how this is not about who goes to the Lok Sabha but what thought process wins – the one about suppression and injustice represented by the PDP-BJP alliance or the one about resilience, honour and dignity represented by Dr. Farooq Abdullah in Srinagar-Budgam and Ghulam Ahmed Mir in Anantnag-Pulwama”, Omar Abdullah said in his address.
The public meeting was also addressed by National Conference President Dr. Farooq Abdullah, Senior Congress Leaders Ghulam Nabi Azad, Tariq Hameed Karra, NC Provincial President Nasir Aslam Wani and Professor Abdul Majeed Mattoo besides various senior functionaries and leaders. (KNS)