In his first ever interview after his arrest in August last year and his release in March this year granted to The Indian Express, Omar Abdullah has laid down three parameters for his party’s future course of action:
National Conference vice-president Omar Abdullah seems inclined to play ball with New Delhi in its plan to form a ‘democratic’ government in the almost-one-year-old Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
In his first ever interview after his arrest in August last year and his release in March this year granted to The Indian Express, Omar Abdullah has laid down three parameters for his party’s future course of action:
Omar Abdullah, speaking to The Indian Express, categorically ruled out any possibility of his party National Conference indulging in any kind of ‘’street politics”. “I am sorry that is not me. I will not engineer a protest to score a point…I have said this before, if I am not willing to put a gun or a stone in my own hands, I have no business to doing this to a young Kashmiri. I am very clear on that…”
Abdullah junior, who spent over 7 months under house arrest since the abrogation of Article 370 on August 5 last year, expressed his bitterness against opposition parties which supported the Modi government’s move inside Parliament to scrap Article 370 and didn’t protest against dismemberment of J&K as a state. “I am deeply resentful about their support to the UT and dismemeberment…And then the way detention were handled.” Omar said the they just paid “lip service” protesting Kashmir leaders’ detention.
Omar made it clear in his interview that he would have no truck with them. “I have no cause with them (opposition leaders). I will speak for the people of J&K. I can’t speak for any body else,” he said. It makes it very clear that his party National Conference will not join hands with any opposition group if it is formed.
Omar Abdullah didn’t sound keen to raise the autonomy issue in J&K politics. When The Indian Express categorically questioned him if National Conference would change its stand on the issue of autonomy, Omar said: “I can’t speak for the party. But I am very clear I will not raise a slogan that is for mere lip service or for hood winking.”
Former RAW chief during the AB Vajpayee government A.S. Dulat had indicated, in an article published on a Delhi-based website, that the Abdullahs’ release in March this year was part of a deal with the Centre. Who knows? May be Omar Abdullah was making the deal public through The Indian Express interview.
Democrat Suhas Subramanyam, a Virginia state senator and Indian American candidate, is running for the US House of Representatives. He emphasizes comprehensive immigration reform, fair green card quotas, healthcare access…
01-11-2024
Read moreKokila Annamalai, an Indian-origin Singaporean activist, faces investigation for defying an order to add a correction notice to her social media posts about death row inmates' legal processes. She has…
01-11-2024
Read moreCanada's opposition leader Pierre Poilievre clarified that Diwali celebrations at Parliament Hill were not canceled but rather relocated and rescheduled. MP Doherty will host the event, continuing the tradition. This…
30-10-2024
Read moreNew York City schools will close on November 1 to observe Diwali, marking a significant milestone for the festival's recognition. This ensures that 1.1 million students can celebrate Diwali without…
30-10-2024
Read moreTara Sreekrishnan, a daughter of Indian immigrants and member of the Santa Clara county board of education, is running for the California state assembly. She advocates for high-quality education, affordable…
28-10-2024
Read moreNasa astronaut Sunita Williams extended Diwali wishes from the International Space Station, highlighting the festival's message of hope and renewal. She expressed gratitude to President Joe Biden and Vice President…
28-10-2024
Read moreKulvinder Ram, 48, has been charged with attempted murder after allegedly stabbing a two-year-old boy, an eight-year-old girl, and a 30-year-old woman in London. The victims are in stable condition…
28-10-2024
Read morePankaj Oswal seeks UN intervention for the release of his daughter Vasundhara, detained in Uganda since October 1. She faces allegations of kidnapping and attempted murder. The family claims the…
15-10-2024
Read moreOhio Senator JD Vance expressed his feelings about taking his Hindu-raised wife, Usha, to Catholic Mass regularly, admitting she didn't expect it but supported his spiritual journey. Usha encouraged him…
12-10-2024
Read more