Sajad Gani Lone, the chief of the People’s Conference (PC), voiced strong criticism against National Conference (NC) vice-president Omar Abdullah. Lone accused Abdullah of having a consistent tendency to humiliate others and emphasized the need for him to refrain from labeling opponents in a negative light.
The criticism stems from Abdullah’s remarks regarding the ongoing political contest in the Baramulla Lok Sabha constituency, where both Abdullah and Lone are contenders. Abdullah had asserted that his fight in the constituency was against Delhi’s policies rather than against any specific candidate. This prompts Lone to question the implications of portraying his supporters as mere “agents of Delhi” or influenced by external agencies.
Lone further expressed his dismay over what he perceives as habitual demeaning and insulting behavior towards the people of Kashmir by Abdullah. He questioned Abdullah’s authority to label and question the choices of Kashmiri voters, particularly those who support the People’s Conference.
“Omar has a habit of humiliating everyone. I want to ask him that are the people supporting us mere agents of Delhi? Are they manipulated by agencies? Why do you habitually demean and insult the people of Kashmir? Do you hold a license to label and question people’s choices, humiliating them in the process?” Lone said.
Drawing attention to the historical context, Lone highlighted instances where he claims the NC, led by the Abdullah family, has sought alliances with Delhi, including instances in 1983, 1987, and beyond. He accused the Abdullahs and the NC of “pleading” with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for support, referencing alleged instances of public appeals made by Farooq Abdullah for BJP’s recognition.
On the contentious issue of the abrogation of Article 370, which granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir, Lone accused the NC of attempting to deceive the public. He questioned the moral grounds of the NC’s claim to seek the restoration of special status, highlighting their previous acquiescence to its abrogation.
“What moral grounds do they hold to claim the restoration of special status to J-K, a cause they willingly relinquished and now seek to exploit emotionally? They had three sitting MPs when Article 370 was abrogated. What have they achieved in the last five years?” he questioned.
Despite his criticisms, Lone suggested that if the NC is serious about their objectives, they should formulate a clear roadmap for achieving them and secure assurances from their alliance partners.
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