Omar Abdullah accuses BJP Govt of reviving terrorism

Shopian, Sep 08: Former Chief Minister and the National Conference (NC) Vice President Omar Abdullah Sunday said that the current dispensation had failed to fight terrorism.

“The present government has revived terrorism in Jammu. Be it Kathua, Jammu, Samba, Udhampur, or Reasi terrorism has been revived in every district,” Abdullah told reporters in south Kashmir’s Shopian district where he was canvassing for the party candidates.

In response to Home Minister Amit Shah’s statement that the return to power of NC and Congress would mean the revival of terrorism, he said that if any party had made sacrifices against terrorism that was NC. Abdullah said that he felt sad when the Home Minister made such statements.

“The family where I stand today has suffered terribly during terrorism,” he said, referring to the killing of senior party leader Sheikh Mansoor, father of Sheikh Muhammad Rafi, who is contesting the upcoming assembly polls from the Shopian assembly constituency.

Abdullah said that the NC workers, legislators, and ministers made huge sacrifices.

“They must see the six years of my government during which the graph of terrorism consistently declined,” he said. “If it is to be compared to the last five years, the graph of terrorism has shot up.”

Abdullah said that the current dispensation gave a fresh start to terrorism.

He said that Article 370 was taken away by a Supreme Court’s decision.

"But, earlier, there were three Supreme Court judgements in favour of Article 370,” Abdullah said.

He said then how could one say that the recent judgement of the SC cannot be overturned.

Earlier, addressing an election rally, Abdullah said that if the government would not restore statehood, they would again knock at the door of the Supreme Court.

He said that the government did not hold elections of its own but on the directions of the Supreme Court.

The former chief minister was referring to Amit Shah’s statement that NC-Congress could not restore statehood.

He said that NC would give 200 units of electricity and 12 LPG cylinders free if it came to power.

Abdullah accused the government of undermining the apple industry by reducing the import duty on foreign apples.

“And today, people are not ready to buy our apples,” he said.

Abdullah said that the MC MPs were fighting to safeguard the interests of apple cultivators. He appealed to the electorate to vote for the NC candidates.