MATHURA: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday hit back at National Conference leader Omar Abdullah for linking the spate of terror attacks in Sopore area with Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar’s alleged remark about revival of ‘Ikhwanis’, saying Jammu and Kashmir will remember the development and governance that the present government is working towards in the valley.
“Kashmir now has a government that works for development. Omar’s misrule in Kashmir has been passed on to us. The youth there wants employment. They are tired of hatred and bloodshed. The people there will have to keep a little bit of patience: a patience not of sixty years, just five years. The world will forget Farooq and Omar, and Kashmir will be remembered for its development and governance that our government will bring in the time span,” BJP spokesperson Shrikant Sharma told ANI here.
“It is no more a government who the people have to endure. We maintain good relations with our neighbouring countries. But if someone tries to break our unity, the self respect of our people, or attack our army, we will give a befitting counter reply,” he added.
Omar, who took out a massive rally against the ruling PDP-BJP government in the state yesterday, had while addressing his supporters linked the Sopore attacks to Parrikar’s remark.
“The Defence Minister of India says that we will use militants to kill militants, meaning we will revive the (counter-insurgency group) Ikhwan. Since the statement was made, you have seen the situation in Sopore. One after another, someone is being killed there,” said Omar.
The former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister also slammed the BJP-PDP coalition government, claiming that all decisions pertaining to the state are taken in Nagpur, the RSS headquarters.
Omar also accused both the state government and the Centre of failing to fulfil the promises made to the people of the state.