Arms distribution in Jammu proof of BJP’s ‘failure’ to curb spread of terrorism: Omar
National Conference vice-president Omar Abdullah on Wednesday said the distribution of arms to people was the biggest proof of the BJP government’s “failure” to check the spread of terrorism in the otherwise peaceful Jammu.
The former CM was apparently referring to the revival of village defence guards and the recent move of replacing their .303 rifles with self-loading rifles in the Jammu region.
“The weapons are being distributed because they have allowed terrorism to grow in Jammu, which was completely cleared of the menace by our government before 2014. The people are being armed because the situation in Jammu has deteriorated and people are worried,” he said.
Addressing a rally in support of party candidate Mehbooba Iqbal in Bhaderwah of Doda district, Abdullah also accused the BJP of supporting smaller groups and Independent candidates to form the next government with their help even as they went to prison and openly talked about the merger of Kashmir with Pakistan.
Continuing his tirade against the BJP, the NC leader said the saffron party leaders were urging people to vote for the BJP to safeguard J&K, but the ground situation contradicted their claims. “The BJP’s slogan is wrong because they have destroyed Jammu and Kashmir and revived terrorism in the region over the past 10 years,” said Abdullah.
He further assured the people that the NC-Congress alliance, once it forms the government, would ensure that the Jammu region was once again freed of terrorism.
“We are nationalists and in the past 35 years, thousands of our workers sacrificed their lives for the nation. We have not lagged behind in nationalism,” the NC leaders said while talking to reporters on the sidelines of another rally held in support of party candidate Arjun Singh Raju in Ramban district.
He was responding to a question that some BJP leaders are saying that the assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir are between “nationalist and anti-national forces”.
