Srinagar, Oct 24: National Conference leader Omar Abdullah on Tuesday said if the conflict in the Middle East spread beyond Gaza, a large number of Indians working in the region will be affected.
“If the conflict drags on, we will definitely get affected. No other country has more nationals working in that region than we have. If the conflict spreads beyond Gaza, our people will be affected by it.
“That is why we want the war to stop, the bombings should stop. The United Nations (UN) and other countries will have to do justice. They cannot have different rules for different countries,” Abdullah told reporters at the party headquarters in Srinagar.
Asked if the UN had maintained silence on the ongoing conflict, the former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir said while the global body has spoken about the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza, it has not been taken as seriously as it should have been.
“The UN is not silent, but unfortunately not much attention is being paid to what it is saying. As far as I saw, the UN has spoken about the humanitarian crisis there, but Israel is getting so much support from the US, the UK and other countries that we do not see as much impact of the UN as we would have liked,” he added.
Abdullah also criticised the J&K administration for not allowing Friday prayers at the Jamia Masjid in Srinagar for the last two weeks.
“Four weeks ago you (government) made so much noise that the situation has improved and there was no need to stop him (Mirwaiz). However, for two weeks now, the Friday prayers have not been allowed in the Jamia Masjid, and Mirwaiz has been confined to his home.
You want to tell the world that the situation has improved and it is normal. If it is so, allow the prayers at the Jamia Masjid and remove the curbs on Mirwaiz,” he said. (AGENCIES)
