PEERZADA SAYEED
Karnah: National Conference (NC) Vice President and former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Omar Abdullah, declared that his party would form the next government in the state, asserting that there would be no tampering with the Scheduled Tribe status of the hill communities. Speaking at a rally organized by the NC in Karnah’s Loontha Public Park, Abdullah sharply criticized the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), accusing it of divisive politics and having misguided ambitions for the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
Addressing a large gathering, Abdullah claimed that only the NC could prevent the BJP from achieving its ambitions in the region. He accused the BJP and other parties of spreading misinformation against the NC, with the aim of hindering the development of Kashmiris. Abdullah also recalled promises made after the abrogation of Article 370, which he said have gone unfulfilled. “They promised a new era of development, factories, and better infrastructure, but none of this has materialized,” he said, criticizing the lack of progress in unemployment and electricity improvements.
Abdullah also outlined his party’s manifesto, promising 200 units of free electricity if elected to power, and criticized the rising cost of basic necessities such as gas cylinders. He reminisced about his tenure as Chief Minister, noting that essential supplies like rice and kerosene were readily available then but have since become scarce.
Further attacking the BJP, Abdullah pointed to its alliances with the Mufti family and accused the party of failing to deliver on its promises. He also took aim at former NC members who defected to other parties, accusing them of opportunism.
Abdullah vowed that if the NC returned to power, the long-awaited Sadhana Tunnel would be constructed, and new employment opportunities would be created for the youth.