‘Appointment of Yasin Malik's wife as Adviser to PM Pakistan's internal matter'
Srinagar, August 21
Replying to a question on the LG's statement that leaders were responsible for killing of 50,000 people here for their own interest, Omar said those who have shown the wrong path to the people..only they are responsible. Who brought the gun here, he questioned.
He said that the national conference has made the most sacrifices after the security forces during all these years in Jammu and Kashmir.
“LG Sahab has just arrived here yesterday and will leave, ask my family members and friends who have seen the destruction during all these years”, he added.
He said: “We know how much effect the gun has had on the families here. We said right from the first day that the people of Jammu and Kashmir were misled by the gun and they nurtured wrong dreams. Those dreams remain as they were but graveyards were filled here, the streams were filled with the blood during all these years”.
“LG has not said anything new which we are not aware of,” he added.
“The gun was never a positive factor for the development of Jammu and Kashmir. It is total destruction”, Omar said and added “As I have told you that after security forces if anybody has seen the most destruction that was the National Conference, thousands of whose people sacrificed their lives during these 35 years”.
When asked about the upcoming Urban Local Bodies' (ULB) elections in Jammu and Kashmir, Abdullah said he would comment on it only after the polls are announced.
“The ULB polls have not been announced yet. Let them announce first. We heard that some candidates have already jumped into the fray. We will make preparations and contest the polls when dates are announced,” he said.
Abdullah said the “big question” today was why the BJP is scared of holding the assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir when all other polls could be conducted.
“The big question is if ULB, Panchayat and Parliament elections can be held, why not for the assembly? Why is BJP running away from assembly polls? Why are they scared? They should come and face the people,” he said.
Responding to a question, Omar Abdullah on Monday said the appointment of JKLF chief Mohammad Yasin Malik's wife as a special adviser to Pakistan's newly appointed caretaker prime minister was the neighbouring country's internal matter.
Mishal Hussain Malik, a Pakistani national married to JKLF chief Malik, was appointed special adviser to Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar on human rights and women empowerment.
“Do we appoint ministers after consulting Pakistan? Why should we expect them to consult us before appointing their ministers? This is their internal matter and we have got nothing to do with it,” Abdullah told reporters at his party headquarters here.
The J-K former chief minister also refused to be drawn into the war of words between the opposition Congress and the government over Rahul Gandhi's statement on China occupying Indian Territory in Ladakh.
“Rahul Gandhi will answer this. What have I got to do with it. Ask him this question. Obviously, his colleagues there (in Ladakh) must have told him about the issue. What can I say about what the PM or Rahul Gandhi said? I am not there in Ladakh,” he added.
On the issue of the National Conference's election symbol in the Hill Council elections in Ladakh, Abdullah said he was hopeful that the party will emerge victorious even if the matter went to the Supreme Court.
“We have now got used to fight against this government. Under the pressure of BJP, the Ladakh administration is compelled to approach the court again and again. We want our symbol on which we want to contest elections. Why does the Ladakh administration have objection to it? We went to HC, the single judge bench decided in our favour. They filed a 300-page appeal before a Division Bench, we succeeded there as well. Now we hear that they are filing and SLP in the Supreme court,” he said.
“Has the NC symbol in Hill Council elections become such a big issue that it (administration) has to go to the SC? Our lawyers are ready and we hope for a victory there as well,” he added.
