Postponing assembly elections would mean bowing before gun-toting forces: Omar

Jammu, July 21: National Conference (NC) vice president and the former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Sunday stated that postponing assembly elections, on the pretext of spurt in terror attacks, would simply mean bowing before gun-toting forces.

He was responding to media queries after addressing a public meeting at Gurha Slathia Ram Leela Ground in Samba.

“If you want to surrender before those forces, then don’t hold elections. Otherwise, this (spurt in terror attacks) could never be a valid justification. Elections were held in J&K even in 1996, when the situation was worse than the present scenario. There can be no denial to this fact. So what do you want to convey – Have we surrendered or has the situation worsened to the extent that holding elections is not possible?” Omar threw a poser, in response to a query about speculations about delayed assembly elections in the wake of spiralling terror attacks, in J&K, mainly in Jammu region.

“Those making such assertions need to come clear that we are admitting our failure. We are also failing our brave-hearts, who sacrificed their lives. If we don’t conduct elections, it would send a message to the enemy that we’re surrendering without a fight. If you want to convey it, then take your call and don’t conduct elections. We’ll not object to this call,” former Chief Minister said.

He dared the ruling dispensation to admit its failure to contain the situation and make it conducive for holding assembly elections before the Supreme Court, if it wanted to delay it (polls).

“Assembly elections are being conducted in compliance with the directive of the Supreme Court to complete the process by September 30. Admit before the Supreme Court that you are yielding to the gun-toting forces, responsible for the killing of our 55 brave-hearts in Jammu in the past three years. If you want to squander their sacrifice by showing this weakness, we would not create a whimper and accept your decision quietly. What else we can do,” Omar dared.

In response to another question as to who was responsible for spurt in terror attacks, the former Chief Minister accused the present ruling dispensation of demonstrating a slack approach in tackling this issue.

“See, there are forces in the neighbouring country which are averse to friendly relations between two nations. Those forces are incorrigible. But to some extent, we too have shown a somewhat casual approach. After all, we’ve lost our 55 brave soldiers. Why did the Lieutenant Governor take so long in conducting a meeting (to evolve strategy) to check terror attacks? He should have conducted such a meeting immediately after the first such attack. It has been conducted after we (opposition) created uproar,” Omar alleged.

Earlier, according a press release, while addressing a  public meeting in Samba Omar Abdullah urged the people of Jammu to open their eyes to the worsening conditions in the province, emphasising the importance of voting wisely in the upcoming assembly elections.

He  said that BJP should have learned a valuable lesson from the recent parliamentary election results.

"They boasted of surpassing the 400 and 370 mark, yet they could not even reach 240. This clearly indicates that the people in the country are dissatisfied with them. Currently, they are seeking help from Bihar, Andhra, and Maharashtra. This should serve as a wake-up call for them. They made grand promises to the youth in J&K, claiming that Article 370 and the J&K flag were hindering their progress and job opportunities. Now we demand to know where those jobs are and where is the prosperity they pledged to our mothers and sisters," Omar asked, saying that the  people have finally seen through their facade.