Omar targets PDP, says helped BJP make inroads into J&K

Launching an attack on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday said that the party was responsible for helping Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) gain inroads into Jammu and Kashmir by entering into an alliance with it.

He attacked PDP in wake of a controversy after Omar was seen in a photograph with the Union Minister Kiren Rijiju at the Tulip Garden in Srinagar. He said that those who remained silent during the critical times of the erstwhile state were now accusing him of a photograph.

“Today those people are talking about me who once sat in the lap of BJP and talked about milk and candies...who sat in the lap of BJP and destroyed J&K...these are the same people who also misguided the youth of J&K,” Omar told mediapersons outside Assembly.

Omar clarified that when he visited the Tulip Garden along with his father, the Union Minister was already there. “He (Rijiju) wanted to get a picture clicked with me...was I supposed not to get a picture clicked? But now this is being used against me by those who gave entry to BJP into J&K,” he said.

He said that these were the same people who have not apologised to the people of J&K for the “bloodshed of 2016”.

Meanwhile, while talking about the ruckus inside the House over Waqf Amendment Act, the CM said that that the Bill was passed in the Parliament and the members of the Assembly were concerned about it. “Unfortunately they were not allowed to discuss the issue. A majority of people were hurt due to the decision of the parliament. We are elected representatives of people. If we do not talk for them inside assembly where will we do? In coming times, NC will continue its efforts outside Assembly,” said Omar.