STATE TIMES NEWS
SAMBA: Encouraged by the performance of National Conference in the first phase of Assembly elections, Chief Minister and Working President National Conference, Omar Abdullah on Wednesday exuded confidence about his party forming the next government in Jammu and Kashmir.
“Response of voters has enthused the cadre, who have galvanised themselves across the State to steer the party to victory”, Omar said while addressing party workers at Khada Madana here this evening.
He attributed huge turnout in the first phase to the turnaround brought in the situation by his government and questioned the comprehension of those sitting on judgment in New Delhi.
“Those crying hoarse about nothing having been done during the past six years should ponder over the fact that his government made the situation conducive for people to vote freely and fearlessly”, the Chief Minister added.
“As a result of sustained peace, the people got encouraged to participate in democratic exercise in a big way”, he said adding that even those not daring to vote for the past 18 years walked towards booths to be part of democracy. He said National Conference has all along remained in the forefront to meet challenges unfolded by situations. This is discernible by the sacrifices offered by its workers during past two and half decades, he maintained.
Omar said his government believed in action which stands testimony on ground in the form of massive development in each sector. “It is different that we didn’t trumpet our efforts made to enhance the quality of life of the people in Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh”, he said.
Reposing his firm faith in democracy, the Chief Minister said that elections to local bodies would have been conducted immediately after the historic Panchayat elections but the Congress had its own problems which hampered this democratic process at the grass roots level.
Omar expressed surprise over the somersault of Congress, saying that if they found National Conference wanting, they should have restrained from seeking its help in the April-May parliamentary elections. “Just six months back we sought votes for Congress candidates in the elections to Lok Sabha for enabling Rahul Gandhi to be the Prime Minister and now they are questioning the coalition at every fora”, he said.
The Working President took BJP head on for creating fear psychosis among the people by creating doubts about secular parties to garner support in elections. He said National Conference has all along rejected the politics based on religion, caste or region. “We inherited as legacy from Sher-e-Kashmir Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah the philosophy of unity in diversity and single entity of the State”, he said and recalled Sheikh Abdullah’s cherished slogan of ‘Hindu, Muslim Sikh Itehad’.
The Chief Minister said that National Conference believes in cementing the relations between various segments and harmonious growth of the society. “We will not dither from our chosen path”, he said and urged the party cadre to remain steadfast in this regard.
Omar Abdullah referred to the recent border firing and asked whether Prime Minister, Narendra Modi came amidst the hapless people in relief camps. “We were the first to share grief and agony of the border dwellers during most turbulent times”, he said.
The Chief Minister exuded confidence about National Conference emerging victorious in the ongoing elections and forming new government. He said that this election is to choose representatives for Legislative Assembly and not the Prime Minister of the country. The agenda for these elections is to channelise all energies and for fast track development in all the three regions and their sub-regions, he added.
Prominent among those present were Provincial President Devender Singh Rana, MLC Master Noor Hussain, contesting candidates Satwant Kour Dogra, Chajju Ram, Kamal Arora and Shakti Bala.