omar-abdullah-vows-continued-fight-for-article-370-inside-and-outside-parliament

Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who is contesting elections from the Baramulla Lok Sabha constituency this year, has said that his ‘fight for Article 370 will continue inside and outside the parliament.'

 

Along with Omar, the National Conference has pitched another strong candidate, prominent Shia leader Agha Syed Ruhullah Mehdi, who will contest from another high-profile Srinagar constituency. 

 

Many experts, however, have different opinions regarding candidate nominations. Some believe that NC might have committed the biggest political blunder, while others suggest that it might be the smartest move they have made.  

 

Only time will tell whether fielding Omar from Baramulla and Ruhullah from Srinagar was a smart move by the party, although the leadership happens to have full confidence in both their nominations.  

 

Senior leader and party president Dr Farooq Abdullah has decided to stay away from elections, citing health concerns.  

 

When asked about the reasons for PAGD’s silence on Article 370, which was created to fight for the restoration of the 370, Omar said that NC has always been determined and will continue to do so.  

 

He added, "There has been no silence on article 370, and all our party speeches have focussed on August 5, 2019.” 

 

Our dignity, self-respect, and identity, as well as our employment and daily lives, were all snatched." We've linked that to writing down 370," he added.  

Abdullah criticised the delimitation exercise and said this Lok Sabha election was unusual for several reasons, including the delimitation of assembly segments in Jammu and Kashmir. 

 

Omar said, "For the first time, we have a constituency in south Kashmir that includes areas from both sides of the mountains, Rajouri and Poonch districts. Similarly, Srinagar has transformed, posing a challenge for us.” 

 

This is an opportunity for voters to tell us whether we are on the right side or not. "It's unique how New Delhi has attempted to manipulate the candidates against the NC," Abdullah added. 

 

He accused the Centre of conspiring against NC by propping up proxy players like the Peoples Conference and the Apni Party.  

 

Omar challenged the Prime minister for his empty rhetoric, saying, “If we were the reasons for back peddling Jammu and Kashmir, why isn’t BJP fighting in Kashmir, as it should be easy for them to win for what they did to Kashmir,”? Omar asked. The BJP will lose all its deposits if they decide to contest in Kashmir.