Banning civilian traffic on national highway has put people to unnecessary duress: Omar

Budgam: Alleging that banning of civilian traffic on Kashmir highway has been made a prestige point by the Governor Administration, National Conference (NC) Vice President Omar Abdullah said that the measure hasn’t proved helpful to security forces rather has brought inconvenience to people.
Addressing a public meet at Sholipora, Budgam, party Vice President said that banning civilian traffic on highway for two consecutive days a week has put people to unnecessary duress. “On other days we see non-civilian traffic plying on road without any hassle, therefore this scheme of banning civilian traffic on two days is unreasonable and devoid of logic. In fact, the army and police have distanced themselves from having such an arrangement. I therefore urge the governor to roll back the order immediately,” he said.
Expressing concern over the decline of civilized political discourse, Mr Abdullah said, “We are witnessing a steep fall in the level of civility in the political discourse during the ongoing election campaign. There should be no place for any hate speech or personal attacks. I hope election commission takes rigorous action against such people as surpass the ambit of civility and decency,” adding, “It is the prime duty of election commission to ensure that moral code of conduct is thoroughly adhered to. They should take tough measures in this direction to ensure the usage of illicit money in the elections is stopped.”
“We have political out fits and people who are blatantly indulging in intimidation and thrashing of their political adversaries. We have come across incidents where in our political workers were thrashed and intimidated post and pre polling few days ago. These political out fits who come forth holding lotus and apple in their hands have erected their edifices on the plinth of money and falsehood. Election commission should take cognizance of their erroneous activities and act accordingly. People should remain vigilant of their machinations and shenanigans,” he said.
Mr Abdullah while referring to present situation the state is grappling with after PDP-BJP-PC combine came to power, said, “People remember how mosques were closed during their reign, how central laws were implemented in our state, how innocents were intimidated by worst possible means. They want us to forget all that but our memory is not weak,” he said, adding, “What good was achieved in my government was put into an abyss by the PDP BJP government. What happened to Rs 80000 Cr package? Where did it go? We seek accountability.”
Mr Abdullah while reminding PDP-PC combine on their promises of holding parleys with Hurriyat and Pakistan and giving jobs to youth, said, “They had promised to remove AFSPA, ensure minimal presence of army in the streets and much more. Nothing of that sort happened. They failed miserably in carrying forward the good will achieved till 2014. On the contrary the combine plunged the state into chaos and turmoil. It’s up to people now to make amends and show them their right place by using the vote wisely,” he said.
Underscoring the importance of Land Reforms, Mr Abdullah said that the revolutionary step would not have been possible without Art 370, Art 35 A in place. “The famous land to tiller reforms and the other sleuth of people friendly reforms undertaken by Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah are one of its kind, nowhere else in the sub-continent were such exemplary steps taken which empowered majority here. The trajectory of the land reforms changed the destiny of our ill fated people who have been marred by years of injustice and repression. Moreover our kids would not have been the sole beneficiaries of scholarship schemes provided by the state if Art 370 Art 35-A were not in place. As such we have to make it a point to strengthen NC candidates and trounce the machinations of those who are hell bent to destroy our identity and special status,” he said.