Destruction of J&K began after PDP joined hands with BJP in 2015: Omar

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday said that the “destruction” of the state did not happen in 2019 but in 2015 when the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) formed the government in alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Addressing a poll rally in Budgam, which goes to the polls next week, Omar accused the BJP of causing “maximum damage” to Jammu and Kashmir.

“Our existence, identity, and respect — everything was snatched from us,” he said. “Even the map of Jammu and Kashmir no longer exists as it used to. Across the country, Union Territories are being upgraded to states, but we are those unfortunate people who were downgraded from a state to a UT.”

The Chief Minister lashed out at the PDP, asserting that while the National Conference (NC) had remained firm on its promises, the PDP “betrayed the people” by aligning with the BJP after the 2014 elections.

“We told people during our campaigns that if we want to keep the BJP out, it is crucial to strengthen the National Conference. People trusted us, and thank God, we remained steadfast in our faith,” Omar said. “Back then, another party emerged with a separate flag, a separate symbol, and separate leadership. Late Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and his daughter went from place to place saying that to keep the BJP out, the PDP must win.”

Omar said people “voted for the PDP with open hearts,” but the party “cheated the people.”

“If the PDP had stayed true to its word and kept the BJP out, perhaps we would not be in this situation today,” he said. “They deceived the voters and, immediately after the election, joined hands with the BJP. Today, if I am the Chief Minister of a Union Territory, it is because of them. When they were in power, they began cutting our roots from within.”

Omar also blamed the PDP-BJP government for implementing laws that, he said, laid the foundation for Jammu and Kashmir’s current woes. “Who brought the GST law? The PDP-BJP government. Who introduced the SARFAESI Act, under which people’s houses are now being taken over by banks? These very people. Our destruction did not begin after 2019 — they started laying its foundation while they were in power,” he said.

He also criticised the PDP for not expressing remorse over its alliance with the BJP. “The people only want to hear that their 2015 decision was wrong and that they regret it. But till now, the PDP hasn’t apologised,” Omar said.

The Budgam bypoll, scheduled for next week, was necessitated after Omar vacated the seat, retaining his traditional Ganderbal constituency following last year’s elections.

The Chief Minister reminded voters that the outcome of the bypoll would not affect the government’s stability but could influence Budgam’s development prospects.

“The vote in Budgam will not decide who the Chief Minister will be — that was decided last year. This vote will decide Budgam’s future. This election will neither make a government nor bring it down. This government still has four full years left,” he said. “Would you want to miss that opportunity? If not, the remedy lies in your hands.”

Omar added that Budgam would effectively have two representatives if NC candidate Aga Syed Mehmood was elected.

Omar said that even after vacating the Budgam seat, he had not neglected the constituency. “In the past year, works worth Rs 110 crore have been undertaken in Budgam,” he said.