Omar Abdullah Archives - Lokmarg

It Would Be Party’s Decision: Omar Abdullah on Contest Elections This Time

By LokMarg 30th March 2024

National Conference leader Omar Abdullah said on Saturday that it would be the party’s decision whether he would contest the elections this time or not.

“There are a lot of rumours during the election time. Whether or not will I fight the elections or from where I will fight the elections, it would be the party’s decision, not mine. I cannot say anything about it,” he said.

Ahead of the INDIA bloc’s ‘Maharally’ at Ram Leela Maidan tomorrow, Omar said that from his party, former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah will participate.

“The INDIA Bloc is going to organise a program at the Ram Lila Maidan in Delhi tomorrow. From the National Conference, leader Farooq Abdullah will participate in it,” he said.

Notably, two Members of Parliament (MPs) of the Trinamool Congress, including Derek O’Brien and Sagarika Ghose, will join the INDIA alliance rally on March 31 at Ramlila Maidan in Delhi, said TMC leader Shashi Panja.

Meanwhile, Aam Aadmi Party leader and Delhi Minister Gopal Rai on Friday announced that several prominent leaders from the INDIA alliance will participate in a rally at Ramlila Maidan on March 31 in support of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal following his recent arrest.

Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, Sharad Pawar, Uddhav Thackeray, Akhilesh Yadav, Farooq Abdullah, Bhagwant Mann, Champai Soren, Tejashwi Yadav, and Sitaram Yechury and many more leaders have been confirmed to join the rally, Rai said.

On being asked about when his party will release the candidate list for the Lok Sabha polls, Omar Abdullah said that they will announce it as per their wish and nobody except Sajjad Lone has declared candidates in the Union Territory.

“Who else has announced the candidates except for Sajjad Lone? I have not heard the name of any candidate for the three seats of Kashmir. Everyone is asking about the candidates for the National Conference as if everyone is waiting for us only. We will announce (the candidates) when we wish. It is possible that the announcement would be made after the notification or at the last date of nomination. It is our wish,” the National Conference leader said.

The Lok Sabha polls in the Union Territory will be held in the first five phases on April 19 (Udhampur), April 26 (Jammu), May 7 (Anantnag-Rajouri), May 13 (Srinagar) and May 20 (Baramulla).

The counting of votes will be taken up on June 4. (ANI)

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Abrogation Of Article 370 Harmed Relation Between J-K And Rest Of Country: Omar Abdullah

By LokMarg 6th December 2023

National Conference Vice President Omar Abdullah on Wednesday unleashed an attack against the BJP-led Central government, saying that it harmed the relation between Jammu and Kashmir and the rest of the country with its decision of abrogating the Article 370 provisions.

The NC leader, while speaking to media persons here, said that no one there was happy with the decision to revoke the special status of the erstwhile state.

“There is no doubt that they did it and they have hurt the sentiments of people while doing it. The promises made to Jammu and Kashmir were not promises made by one leader sitting in Delhi or a party, but it was the country that made promises to the people of J-K. The bond was not between a person in Delhi and JK, it was a link between a country with this state,” Abdullah said.

He further said that people will show their unhappiness with the decisions when assembly elections are held in Jammu and Kashmir.

“The bond was not between a person in Delhi and J-K, it was a link between a country with this state. If they think that harming this bond deserves congratulations, then let them congratulate each other. The truth is that people in Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh are not happy with the steps taken on August 5, 2019. This was proved in Kargil (LAHDC polls). It was proved in DDC (District Development Council) polls and if they conduct assembly elections here, it would be proved again,” he added.

Hitting out at the Centre for not conducting the elections in the region, Omar Abdullah alleged that a fixed match is being played.

“It is the right of people of J-K to use their vote and elect their leaders. We are being kept away from this. A fixed match is being played – when you ask the Election Commission (about elections in J-K), it points at the Centre, and when we ask the Centre, it points towards EC,” the NC leader said.

Further asserting that the delay in holding assembly elections in the Union territory was taking Jammu and Kashmir on the path to destruction, Abdullah said that people of the region are being deprived of their right to vote.

“It’s taking the region towards destruction. People have been deprived of their right to vote since 2014,” he said.

This comes on a day when a debate on the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill and the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill is taking place in the Lok Sabha.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday said that the two bills on Jammu and Kashmir moved for approval in the Lok Sabha pertain to providing rights to those who faced injustice and were insulted and ignored.

The Home Minister further said that bills seek to give justice to those who were forced to become refugees in their own country.

“I am glad that throughout the whole discussion and debate over the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill 2023, no member opposed the ‘tattva’ (substance) of the Bill.”

He said there is a huge difference between giving rights and giving rights respectfully

“The Bill that I have brought here pertains to bringing justice to and providing rights to those against whom injustice was done, who were insulted and those who were ignored. In any society, those who are deprived should be brought forward. That is the basic sense of the Constitution of India. But they have to be brought forward in a way that doesn’t reduce their respect. There is a huge difference between giving rights and giving rights respectfully. So, instead of weak and deprived category renaming it to Other Backward Class is important,” he said.

The Centre abrogated the special status of Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370 on August 5, 2019, soon after the second term of the PM Modi-led government began.

Included in the Constitution on October 17, 1949, Article 370 exempts J-K from the Indian Constitution (except Article 1 and Article 370 itself) and permits the state to draft its own Constitution. (ANI)

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If Situation Is Like This In future, We Cannot Win: Omar Abdullah

By LokMarg 3rd December 2023

Amid the results of four state assembly elections in which the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is leading n Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said that judging the results of the INDIA bloc, if the situation continues to be like this in future, the opposition alliance will not be able to win.

“Judging the results of INDIA alliance in the state elections, if the situation is like this in the future, we cannot win,” Omar Abdullah said, speaking to reporters on Sunday.

Abdullah said that the Congress’ claims in the state elections proved otherwise since the party was able to win only in Telangana.

“BJP should be congratulated because we were not expecting this result. We were hearing from our allies that in Chhattisgarh, the Congress would come to power easily, they would win in Madhya Pradesh as well, they were confident in Telangana and they were even saying that in the end they will come out victorious in Rajasthan as well. When the results came out, only their claim in Telangana stood true. Neither could they save Chhattisgarh, nor win back Madhya Pradesh nor could they win in Rajasthan again,” he said.

Speaking about the BJP’s foothold in Madhya Pradesh, Abdullah said, “If you see Madhya Pradesh, Kamal Nath was the Chief Minister for a short time, but leaving that aside, for around 20 years BJP was in power. This is BJP’s fifth term. This is huge.”

On the future of the INDIA bloc, the National Conference Vice President said, “On December 6, the Congress chief has invited some INDIA alliance leaders for lunch. They recalled the INDIA alliance after three months. Let’s see.”

Speaking on the performance of the Congress in Madhya Pradesh, Abdullah said that the Congress should have given some seats to its INDIA bloc partner, Samajwadi Party to contest.

“Either the Congress has not been able to understand the ground situation in Madhya Pradesh. What harm could have happened if they had given 5-7 seats to Akhilesh Yadav. What storm could have blown? What have they won now? The results are in front of everyone now,” he said.

On whether his party will be contesting with the INDIA bloc for the state assembly elections, Abdullah said, “The NC will be standing on its own.”

Going by trends, the Congress has been able to consolidate Telangana. In Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan, the BJP seems to be winning. (ANI)

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Omar, Mehbooba Relieved Over Mirwaiz’s ‘Release’

By LokMarg 22nd September 2023

Welcoming the decision of the Jammu and Kashmir administration to release Mirwaiz Umar Farooq from house arrest, former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday expressed hope that the cleric will be “allowed to move freely, interact with people” and “resume his religious responsibilities”.

Former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir Mehbooba Mufti on Friday said that Mirwaiz Umer Farooq will “walk a free man after years of denial about his detention” by the administration of Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir.

“Finally Mirwaiz Umer Farooq will walk a free man after years of LG admin’s denial about his detention. As a religious head he is held in high regard by muslims across J&K. Unfortunately a tussle has already begun between BJPs and various political outfits to claim credit for his release,” the People’s Democratic Party Chief posted on Twitter, which is now X.

Abdullah said: “I welcome the step taken by the administration in J&K to release Mirwaiz Umar Farooq from house arrest. I hope that they allow him to move freely, interact with people & resume his social/religious responsibilities. Today eyes in Kashmir will be on the Mirwaiz as he delivers his first Friday sermon in Jamia Masjid after 2019.”

The management of Kashmir’s grand mosque- Jamia Masjid said in a brief statement said that the cleric will be allowed to offer Friday prayers after four years of “house arrest”.

“Mirwaiz Umar Farooq will be allowed to offer Friday prayers at Srinagar’s Jamia Masjid after 4 years of house arrest,” the statement said.

Mirwaiz Manzil, which identifies to be the Centre of religious and political discussions, posted on X, “After FOUR years (212 Fridays) of illegal & arbitrary incarceration, Mirwaiz Kashmir will today offer congregational Friday prayers & deliver the sermon at Jama Masjid Srinagar”.

Mirwaiz Umar has repeatedly alleged that he has been put under house arrest by the police after the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019.

However, contradicting his statement, Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor Manoj Sinha told the media in Srinagar last month that Umar Farooq was a “free man and not under detention”.

Earlier in August, the Centre celebrated the fourth anniversary of its decision to abrogate Article 370 and bifurcate the erstwhile state into two Union territories- Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.

Mirwaiz Umar Farooq is the son of Mirwaiz Maulvi Farooq who was killed on May 21, 1990, by terrorists of Hizbul Mujahideen.

Earlier in May this year, Director General of Police (DGP) Dilbagh Singh said that the State Investigation Agency (SIA) of Jammu and Kashmir Police arrested two absconding terrorists of Hizbul Mujahideen in the case.

The arrested terrorists Javaid Ahmad Bhat and Zahoor Ahmad Bhat were residents of Srinagar. They were absconding after murdering Mirwaiz Farooq on May 21, 1990. (ANI)

Change Constitution If You Have Guts: Omar Abdullah Amid India-Bharat Row

By LokMarg 8th September 2023

As controversy has erupted on the ‘Bharat-India’ name, National Conference leader Omar Abdullah on Friday challenged the Centre to ‘change’ the Constitution first if they have ‘guts’.

Talking to the reporters here, the NC leader said nobody will support the union government if it will change the Constitution to rename the country.

“Nobody can change it… It is not so easy to change the name of the country. To do this, you will have to change the Constitution of the country. If you have the guts, then do it, we will also see who supports you…,” Omar Abdullah said.

Speculations have gained ground that the Centre might change the name of the country to Bharat from India after Rashtrapati Bhawan sent out invitations for a G20 dinner on September 9 on behalf of the ‘President of Bharat’.

The opposition alleged that the government was resorting to “drama” just because they got together and called their bloc INDIA. BJP leaders have strongly supported the move by the government.

National Conference (NC) patriarch Farooq Abdullah also commented on the same on Friday and said, “Read the Constitution first; it is mentioned there that Bharat and India are one. You (media) create controversy.”

However, the Ladakh administration announced a new schedule for elections to the fifth Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) in the Kargil region, following a directive by the Supreme Court, Omar Abdullah said that his party is now looking forward to getting the support of the people in the region after the verdict.

“It is unfortunate that we had to fight for the thing that was our right as a political party. Election guidelines are very clear about the allocation of the symbol. Clearly, the administration and Ladakh had a biased agenda which is why they went all the way to the Supreme Court. But if you read the verdict, particularly the detailed judgement and the imposition of Rs 1 lakh on Ladakh administration is itself an indication how seriously the court viewed the conduct of Ladakh government,” the NC leader said.

As per the notification, elections to 26 seats of the 30-member LAHDC will be held on October 4. The LAHDC Kargil had come into effect in 2003.

As per the previous notification the Union Territory of Ladakh had announced that elections to the LAHDC were scheduled to be held on September 10 and counting to be held on September 14.

According to the new notification, the process for filing nominations will start on September 9 and the last date for filing nominations is September 16. The last date for withdrawing nominations has been fixed on September 20, it said.

The counting of votes will take place on October 8.

“Voting will be held between 8 am to 4 pm,” it said.

The notification further said that the entire election process should be completed before October 11.

The Supreme Court Wednesday set aside the August 2 notification issued by the Ladakh administration for elections to LAHDC and directed that a fresh notification be issued within seven days.

The bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Ahsanuddin Amanulla imposed a cost of Rs 1 lakh on the Ladakh administration and also dismissed its appeal against an August 14 order of a division bench of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court which had upheld an interim order by a single-judge bench for grant of the ‘Plough’ poll symbol to the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (JKNC). (ANI)

SC Allots Plough Election Symbol To J&K National Conference

By LokMarg 6th September 2023

The Supreme Court on Wednesday set aside the notification issued by the Union Territory of Ladakh for the election in the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) and allotted the ‘plough’ symbol to the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (JKNC).

Welcoming the Supreme Court’s decision, JKNC Vice President Omar Abdullah said, “We have got the verdict we wanted and deserved.”

Hitting out at the ‘biased’ UT administration, Abdullah said, the Bharatiya Janta Party, ably assisted by a totally biased Ladakh administration, did everything possible to deny us our rights.

“Our symbol, the plough, was given to us by the Hon. Supreme Court earlier this morning. The BJP, ably assisted by a totally biased Ladakh administration, did everything possible to deny us our rights. The court saw through this and penalized them with ₹1 lakh in costs imposed on the administration. Congratulations to @JkncKargil! And a huge thank you to @ShariqJReyaz for the amazing job he did arguing this in front of the HC and SC,” Omar Abdullah wrote on X.

On Friday, the Supreme Court reserved orders on a petition filed by the Ladakh administration seeking to restrain the Jammu & Kashmir National Conference Party (JKNC) from fighting the local body elections in Kargil on its registered ‘plough’ symbol. The court announced that an order would be passed on Wednesday.

Elections will be held in the Kargil region on September 10. The Court, in its order, asked the election authorities to allot the plough symbol to the JKNC.

The decision was announced by a bench of Justices, including Vikaram Nath and Ahsanuddin Amanullan. The court directed a fresh notification to be issued to LAHDC within 7 days. Also, a fine of Rs 1 lakh has been imposed on the UT administration. The Court said that only due to this reason, the entire election process issued by the Ladakh authority has been set aside. (ANI)