BJP’s mishandling revived terrorism in peaceful Jammu: Omar Abdullah

Jammu, Sep 10: National Conference (NC) Vice President and former chief minister Omar Abdullah Tuesday said that the BJP’s “mishandling” of the situation had led to the revival of terrorism in otherwise peaceful Jammu.

“The NC along with its coalition partner Congress will ensure to make the region free once again from terrorism after forming the next government in Jammu and Kashmir,” Abdullah said addressing an election rally in support of party colleague and coalition candidate Puja Thakur in Paddar-Nagseni constituency in Kishtwar district.

The former chief minister also criticised the “double engine” BJP government in J&K and alleged that except for increasing the problems of the people, causing destruction and devastation, and spreading disappointment, it did nothing as “nobody in J&K is ready to praise the government for even a single thing”.

“Excluding intimidation and threatening, they have done nothing. They are spreading rumours that if the NC and Congress coalition comes to power, terrorism will return. I want to remind them, whether he is home minister or defence minister, that the Jammu region was made completely free of terror during my tenure,” he said. “Over the last five years, terrorism has revived in Chenab Valley, Pir Panjal region, Udhampur, Reasi, Jammu, Kathua, and Samba districts. Tell me one district where our soldiers are not being targeted in the Jammu region which was freed of terrorism long back.”

Reacting to Home Minister Amit Shah’s recent statement that terrorism will return if the NC-Congress alliance comes to power in J&K, he said, “We have to bear the brunt of their misdeeds and lapses which led to the revival of terror in the peaceful areas.”

However, the former chief minister said he wants to assure the people of Jammu that the NC-Congress alliance will free the region of terror once it comes back to power.

He said the people of J&K waited for 10 long years for assembly elections and the time had come to show the door to the BJP which was directly or indirectly in power in J&K.

“They first joined hands with PDP even as both the parties sought votes from the people against each other. They continued their rule through Raj Bhawan after the collapse of the previous government. They are talking about double-engine governments in the poll-bound states but here we have seen how the double-engine government functions. They have only increased the problems of the people, caused destruction and devastation and spread disappointment among the people. Wherever we go, the people have only complaints against them and no one is ready to praise the BJP government for even one thing,” the NC leader said.

He said his party does not believe in seeking votes based on religion because “all sections of society, irrespective of their religion, suffer when you are faced with growing unemployment, inflated electricity bills, price rise and lack of basic needs like health, education, water and electricity”.

Abdullah assured the people that the NC-Congress coalition government would fulfil all its promises to provide relief to the people.

He also said that the jailed MP Engineer Rashid had been granted bail to fetch votes from the people of Kashmir, not serve them.

Abdullah's remarks came after Rashid was granted interim bail in a terror funding case by a Delhi court.

"We were aware that it would happen. I feel regret for the people of Baramulla parliamentary constituency as this bail has not been granted to serve them or attend Parliament," Abdullah told reporters.

"He has not been granted bail to work as a parliamentarian but to fetch votes here. After that, he will be taken back to Tihar (jail) and the people of north Kashmir will again be without a representative," he said.

Rashid defeated the former chief minister in Baramulla in the Lok Sabha elections.

He was granted interim bail till October 2 to enable him to campaign in the assembly elections in J&K.

However, Abdullah said that it remained to be seen how the voters would respond to Rashid's interim bail and what its implications would be in the elections.

About People's Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti describing Rashid's Awami Ittehad Party as a proxy for the BJP, Abdullah said while he was being very cautious on the issue, "it is good that Mehbooba has stated openly what many people were thinking".

"She has clearly said that Rashid is working on the directions of the BJP," he said.

Abdullah also noted that Mehbooba raised questions about the source of funds for Awami Ittehad Party candidates.

"Let's see if the Awami Ittehad Party can answer these queries. We will fight them and our appeal to the voters is not to split their votes as the BJP has been continuously conspiring," he said.

"The way the home minister said in a press conference that BJP will form a government with the Awami Ittehad Party, People’s Conference, and other parties, so, if people want to help the BJP form the next government, then let them support these parties,” he said.

Abdullah was also asked about jailed cleric Sarjan Barkati contesting against him from the Ganderbal seat, to which he replied, "There is something that jailed persons are going after me alone."

"This is not something ordinary. I can understand it as a coincidence that Rashid contested against me once but then fielded a person on two seats -- had I announced my candidature from Budgam two days before I did, Barkati would have contested from Budgam as well -- they are making attempts but I am hopeful that their attempts will fail," he said.

Cautioning the people against supporting independent candidates, Abdullah said voting for them was akin to voting for the BJP.

"If you want to keep the BJP out, then vote for the NC and its alliance partner," he said.

Asked about Congress leader and Banihal candidate Vikar Rassol Wani's tirade against Abdullah and his party, the former chief minister said, “The Banihal guy is a fool.”

"He has no control over his tongue, his party has disassociated itself from his statement. I do not have an answer to why he is so frustrated and has no control over his tongue. At least the Congress noticed his statement and raised its voice against it. For us, the issue was settled there,” Abdullah said.