Omar Abdullah, the vice president of the National Conference (NC), has accused the BJP of failing to contain militancy in Jammu and Kashmir after the revocation of Article 370 in August 2019. Abdullah, who served as Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir from 2009 to 2014, claims that militancy declined during his tenure, but has been on the rise in recent years.
He specifically pointed to the resurgence of militancy in districts like Kathua, Jammu, and Rajouri under the current administration. His remarks come in response to Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s earlier statement accusing the NC-Congress alliance of bringing back terrorism to Jammu and Kashmir.
Abdullah strongly refuted this accusation, asserting that it is the BJP government that has inadvertently fueled the rise in militancy. He emphasized that the NC-Congress alliance, if elected, will prioritize rectifying the situation and combating terrorism. He also expressed disappointment at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Rajnath Singh’s misrepresentation of the reality.
Abdullah further stated that the NC will continue to fight for the restoration of Article 370, which was revoked by the BJP government. He acknowledged that the revocation was based on a Supreme Court ruling but maintained that the NC will keep the issue alive.
These accusations and counter-accusations come in the lead up to the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections, where the NC is seeking to regain power. Abdullah’s statements highlight the contentious issue of Article 370 and its impact on the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir, setting the stage for a heated political campaign.
