Omar Abdullah – The Kashmir Horizon

Omar defends his father, says people spinning Farooq’s 3rd party comment

United News of India — Fri, 21 Jul 2017 20:28:32 +0000

Srinagar: Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah today came in defence of his father, saying that the people reacting to Member of Parliament (MP) Farooq Abdullah’s ‘third-party intervention’ comment are giving a different spin to it.
“Dr Abdullah didn’t call for mediation he said “Trump offered to help & CHINA OFFERED to mediate”. How is that the same as him asking for it,” Mr Omar, who is the working president of National Conference (NC), wrote on micro-blogging site twitter.
“Talk about spinning a statement. Dr Abdullah has said friends can be used to facilitate a dialogue with Pakistan, to facilitate a solution,” he said.
In a serious of tweets in defence of his father, Mr Omar said there is a difference between facilitation and mediation. “India has used Int. facilitation-during Kargil war, after Parliament attack Etc,” he added.
Reacting to PDP, which is an alliance partner of BJP in J&K government, welcoming Dr Abdullah’s statement, said, “I guess that makes the BJP-PDP anti-national as well.
“BJP’s ally @jkpdp has welcomed Dr Abdullah’s statement. I guess that makes the BJPDP anti-national as well,” he said.
Reacting sharply to Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi’s comment, he said, “My father isn’t a Congress party member and doesn’t need its permission or approval before he voices his opinion. It’s called free speech.”
Gandhi had earlier in the day refutes Abdullah’s assertion on third party intervention to resolve Kashmir issue.

Using state plane by CM for flying between Jammu-Srinagar violation of MCC: Omar

K H News Service — Mon, 03 Apr 2017 20:31:11 +0000

Srinagar/April, 3: Using state plane by Chief minister Mehbooba Mufti and her cabinet colleagues for flying between Jammu to Srinagar for campaigning in two parliamentary constituencies, going to polls next week, working president of the main opposition National Conference (NC) Omar Abdullah said the Election Commission (EC) must take immediate note.
Srinagar seat is going to polls on April 9 while polling will be held in Anantnag parliamentary constituency on April 12.
Taking to micro blogging site twitter former Chief Minister Mr Abdullah said “ With the capital in Jammu it is indeed a gross violation of the MCC by the CM & her minister to use the state plane to return to campaign”.
He further said “ The EC must immediately take note of this violation of the Model Code & the CM must be made to return to Jammu & fly back by regular flight”.
Whether it is CM’s advisors hosting lunch for senior journalists in Kashmir House Delhi or use of State Plane PDP doesn’t care for EC code, Mr Abdullah further tweeted.
Reacting to recent controvery over working of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), Mr Abdullah said “ This doesn’t instil much confidence in current EVMs. Does this mean the EC believes the current crop have been/can be tampered with”.
His reaction came after a tweet said that “New EVMs will stop working if tampered with”.

PDP pushed Kashmiri youth to the wall: Omar

K H News Service — Sun, 02 Apr 2017 09:22:47 +0000

Beerwah/April,1: National Conference Working President Omar Abdullah on Saturday lashed out at PDP for blaming people for the current volatile situation in the Valley instead of feeling remorse over the reign of terror and repression it unleashed in Kashmir.

He wondered at the brazen attempts of Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti underplaying the bloodshed and atrocities being committed upon the people, saying the 2016 killings, blindings and maiming of youth is unparallel in the history of Kashmir.

“What Kashmiris underwent in 2016 or are facing now is beyond comprehension and expression”, the Working President said while intensifying election campaign for the party president Dr Farooq Abdullah in Srinagar parliamentary constituency. He said PDP had pushed Kashmiri youth to the wall and robbing them of an opportunity to live with peace and dignity.

Mr Omar Abdullah said the anti-people policies of the PDP-BJP dispensation have brought Kashmir at the volatile cross roads of history where nothing is visible except uncertainty, fear and harassment. “The scenario across the Valley is so grim that the people are apprehensive about their safety with economic activity and development coming to grinding halt”, he said, adding that the spree of arrests has further vitiated the atmosphere. He said the current insensitive dispensation has exposed people to administrative inertia, as a result of which they were suffering on all fronts.

He asked the PDP as to what had happened to lofty promises of jobs for youth, repealing Armed Forces Special Powers Act, ensuring 24X7 drinking water and power supply and above all resolving political problem of Kashmir. He described PDP as dream merchants.

“Yes, if PDP can take credit of anything, it is strengthened of the unbridled forces with additional 5,000 pellet guns and seven lakh pellets to target Kashmiri youth”, he added.

The National Conference Working President said the promises made by the PDP during 2014 parliamentary and assembly elections, as also while forming the government in coalition with BJP have proved hoax. Those promises were just to hoodwink public opinion, as the PDP was never sincere to what it committed to the people. He cautioned the electors against machinations of the PDP-BJP duo saying they can go to any extent in remaining in the power.

Omar Abdullah expressed his gratitude to the people of Beerwah for reposing their trust in him during 2014 assembly elections and said most of the commitments made by him have been either fulfilled or taken up and underway. He said he will always remain in the forefront to solve the problems of his constituency.

Referring to the upcoming by-polls, Mr Omar Abdullah described these as an opportunity for oppressed people to punish the PDP for its betrayal and joining hands with communal forces. He said that National Conference has aligned with the Congress to foil the nefarious game-plan of communal forces which have made inroads in Kashmir due to courtesy of the PDP.

Mr Omar Abdullah said that befitting reply to PDP’s betrayal would be to vote and support the NC and Congress candidates from Srinagar and Anantnag parliamentary constituencies. He exuded confidence about magnificent success of Dr Farooq Abdullah from Srinagar with the active support of sagacious voters.
Mr Omar Abdullah along with senior leaders addressed workers at Alamnag, Poshkar, Sugan, Panziyara and Nasserpora. Mr Tanivir Sadiq, Professor Abdul Majeed Mattoo and Mr Mohammed Ibrahim, Block President also addressed the election meetings.