‘If BJP’s divisive politics prevails, J&K’s future generations will suffer’

Srinagar, Sep 28: National Conference (NC) Vice President Omar Abdullah Saturday said the rights of 1.4 crore people were stripped away thereby inflicting a serious blow on the psyche of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

Addressing a series of election rallies in Tangmarg, Lolab, and Halmatpora Kupwara as part of the ongoing campaign, Abdullah said, “People of J&K used to have exclusive rights to the land, employment, education, rivers, forests, and other resources of J&K. However, on August 5, 2019, our rights were forcefully stripped away and handed over to 140 crore people. The current BJP government is determined to put an official stamp on their actions in the Legislative Assembly. We have no other option but to stop them.”

He said that the assembly polls in J&K were being held after 10 years and a lot had changed in these 10 years.

"A lot has been taken away from us, our dignity, our honour, our identity has been taken away from us. Before 2019, when there were assembly elections, we had our flag, we had our constitution, Ladakh was our part, we had our State, we had the right to our land in the State, we had the right to our employment, we had the right to rivers, mountains, and forests. But PDP opened the doors for BJP here and finally on August 5, 2019, the rights of 1.4 crore people were taken away and given to 140 crore people and the people here got nothing in return. People here have seen nothing but destruction, unemployment, and despair. The last 10 years have been very upsetting for the people of J&K,” Abdullah said.

Referring to Member of Parliament Engineer Rashid, he said that on the one hand, Rashid says that he is against Prime Minister Narendra Modi's new Kashmir model, while on the other hand, he is fielding candidates in Sonawari, Beerwah, and other constituencies, who are led by BJP and who have been here for the past 5 years running their agenda.

He appealed to the voters of Kashmir that there was no room for error, the vote in the assembly elections was directly related to the future generations.

“If the vote is misused, God forbid, the future of this State will get ruined,” Abdullah said.

The rallies were organised by the party's contesting candidates Nasir Aslam Wani, Qaiser Jamshed Lone, and Farooq Ahmad Shah.

NC Treasurer Shammi Oberoi also attended the rallies.