One party ‘facilitated’ another ‘brutally repressed’: Omar Abdullah on BJP, NC rival protests

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday levelled serious allegations of differential treatment against the administration, asserting that the BJP was “facilitated” in its protest while his National Conference (NC) was “brutally repressed” by security forces.

Speaking to reporters, CM Omar rejected any comparison between the two protests that took place in Srinagar.

“You saw BJP being allowed to protest and National Conference not being allowed to protest. That is what you saw today,” he said . “One was facilitated and one was brutally repressed.”

The Chief Minister claimed his party workers were dragged and injured during the demonstration. “Colleagues of mine were dragged. They were injured. Some of them had to seek treatment in hospital. So that was what was done with National Conference,” he alleged.

The Chief Minister said, “This in itself tells you the situation that exists in J&K today, where if you want to march on the Chief Minister’s residence, you are allowed to. If you want to tear out the Secretariat, you are allowed to. But if you want to protest outside the BJP’s office, God forbid, that you will not be allowed because the police is there only to protect the honour of the BJP”.

Responding to allegations from the Leader of the Opposition (LoP) that he has failed to deliver on electoral promises, CM Omar questioned the basis of the criticism.

“LoP has said that CM Omar Abdullah has failed in the promises he made in Manifesto, on the basis of which he won the election. Now they are talking about statehood. We have voted for statehood. Why should I resign?” he asked.

The Chief Minister said the people of Jammu and Kashmir have given his government a five-year mandate. “After five years, we will present our report card in front of the people,” he said, dismissing calls for his resignation over the statehood issue .

CM Omar further accused the BJP of making baseless allegations regarding corruption and backdoor appointments, pointing to the limits of his government’s powers.

“My government does not have the power to investigate them. So LoP, tell me, what investigation has been done? If there have been backdoor appointments, then which agency investigated them? If there has been corruption, then the Anti-Corruption Bureau is not under my control. The Crime Branch is not under my control. The CID is not under my control,” he said. (KNS)