Srinagar: National Conference Working President Omar Abdullah on Tuesday said that the youth of the State were being “suffocated by repressive” policies of the PDP-BJP coalition Government.
Addressing a youth convention at National Conference Head Office, ‘Nawa-e-Subha’, in Srinagar, the former chief minister, Omar Abdullah, exhorted the youth activists of the party “to lead efforts to bring about Change and empower the youth to shape a future of dignity and peace”.
“The looming uncertainty coupled with the confrontational approach of the PDP-BJP Government has created a sense of despair and hopelessness among the youth. The Union Government’s unfortunate failure to reach out and build bridges of reconciliation and peace with our youth has created a political vacuum. In this grim atmosphere, our youth is being robbed of their right to dream of a dignified and prosperous future – which is a travesty,” Omar Abdullah said while addressing the youth activists and office bearers of Youth National Conference.
The NC Working President said the youth “feel cheated and betrayed” after promises made to them in 2014 were either “broken or unapologetically” abandoned.
“Promises were made during the elections and votes were sought for specific purposes. The same promises were then bartered without any inhibitions for personal and familial political empowerment of a few people while our hardworking, honest and sincere young men and women were let down and left to the mercy of uncertainty and turmoil. Due to this treachery, the trust deficit has been further widened to an extent where skepticism on the ground far overshadows the utility of any rhetoric the Government has to offer,” the NC Working President added.
Asking the youth activists to organize themselves at the local ground level in a “decentralized” manner, Omar Abdullah asked them to lead a “collective effort to bring about a change”.
“You are the harbingers of Change and you have to work together and with utmost dedication and conviction to be a source of reprieve for the people. Together, the youth can lead a historic effort to rid the State of political opportunism and deceit,” Omar Abdullah further said.
Appreciating the outreach programs initiated by Youth National Conference, Omar Abdullah said that he would continue to wholeheartedly support the “young brigade of the party in their endeavors to serve the State and its people above and beyond any partisan motives”.
Addressing the convention, YNC Provincial President Salman Ali Sagar said, “YNC would continue its outreach programs across the length and breadth of the Province and was encouraged by the overwhelming response of the youth to the party’s political mission and programs.”
“Under Mr. Omar Abdullah’s dynamic leadership, the party’s efforts to empower the youth of the State are bearing fruit as more and more youngsters are coming forward to be a part of Change,” the YNC Provincial President said.
