Spurt in local militancy points to bitterness with government, says Omar

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, March 22

National Conference working president Omar Abdullah today said the “overwhelming sense of despondency” in J&K must be replaced with hope and sustained peace to usher the state out of the current “political vacuum and morass it has been left in by the powers that be”.

Omar made the comments while addressing a workers’ convention at Nasarpora in Budgam district.

He further said the continued alienation of the youth and the spurt in local youth resorting to armed militancy was a grim reminder of how “political opportunism and U-turns by the ruling dispensation had pushed the state back into the throes of turmoil and chaos”.

“Since the past three years, the situation in the state, especially Kashmir, has deteriorated in every aspect as the youth are still reeling under the psychological ramifications of the PDP’s brazen sell-out to the BJP. Every promise made by the PDP to seek votes in 2014 stands broken without any regret,” he added.

Stating that while the situation on the LoC continued to be grim and precarious with growing casualties, Omar said internally a renewed spurt in local militancy had indicated widespread disenchantment with the present government.

He said if PDP leaders printed hoardings claiming credit for peace initiatives between India and Pakistan, including the bus service and the LoC trade, they should also accept the blame for every shell that decimates peace on the Line of Control and results in loss of lives.

“They promised us dialogue between New Delhi and Islamabad and internally between New Delhi and stakeholders in Kashmir as a smokescreen to justify their alliance with the BJP. Where is that dialogue? What happened to apparently the very basis of your compromise?” Omar asked.