NC Protest Was 'Brutally Repressed': CM Omar

(MENAFN- Kashmir Observer) Srinagar- Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday rejected comparisons between the National Conference (NC) and BJP protests in Srinagar, alleging that the administration and police treated the two demonstrations differently.

Speaking with reporters in Srinagar, the Chief Minister said the BJP was allowed to protest while the NC demonstration was“brutally repressed”.

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He alleged that several NC workers were dragged and injured, with some requiring hospital treatment.“Please, don't draw a false equivalence. There is no equivalence in the way in which the two parties were treated by the administration, by the police. One was facilitated and one was brutally repressed,” he said.

He said the difference in the treatment of the two protests was visible to everyone, alleging that BJP protesters were escorted while the NC was prevented from marching towards the BJP office.

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Omar questioned the ease with which media persons were able to interact with BJP Leader of Opposition (LoP) Sunil Sharma during the protest.“The ease with which media were able to interview the Leader of the Opposition during their protest was seen by all of us,” he said.

The Chief Minister said the contrasting treatment reflected the situation prevailing in Jammu and Kashmir, alleging that protests targeting the government were allowed while demonstrations outside the BJP office were prevented.

“If you want to march on the Chief Minister's residence, you are allowed to. If you want to gherao the Secretariat, you are allowed to. But if you want to protest outside the BJP's office, God forbid, you will not be allowed,” he said.

Responding to BJP's demand that he resign and seek a fresh mandate on the issue of statehood, Abdullah said he would not step down to satisfy the Leader of Opposition.“Why should I resign? I will not resign for the happiness of the LoP,” he said.

Read Also NC, BJP Stage Rival Protests Over Governance, Statehood Kashmir's Changing Equation

Omar said the people of Jammu and Kashmir had given his government a five-year mandate and that it would present its report card before the people after completing its term.“The people of Jammu and Kashmir have given us five years. We will present our report card to the people after five years,” he said.

Dismisses BJP allegations of backdoor appointments

On allegations of backdoor appointments and favouritism, the CM said his government did not control the agencies responsible for investigating such cases.

“If there have been backdoor appointments, then which agency has investigated them? Tell me one thing: if there has been a backdoor appointment, then the Anti-Corruption Bureau is not under my control. The Crime Branch is not under my control. The CID is not under my control,” he said.

He said such allegations were being levelled by the BJP without providing evidence, alleging that the party was trying to divert attention from its own shortcomings.“These are baseless allegations from the BJP, because they have nothing else to say. They themselves fail every day and make us the target,” he said. (KNO)

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