Amid the Congress's relentless campaign against alleged vote theft and electoral irregularities, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and National Conference (JKNC) leader Omar Abdullah on Monday distanced himself from the issue and said the "INDIA bloc has got nothing to do with it."
"The INDIA bloc has got nothing to do with it. Every political party is at liberty to set its own agenda. The Congress has made 'vote chori' and SIR as its main issues. Who are we to tell them otherwise?" the CM said, reported PTI.
Abdullah's remarks came a day after the Congress's 'Vote Chor Gaddi Chhod' rally in the national capital, during which senior leaders called for the removal of the BJP-led regime alleging that vote theft is in the saffron party's DNA.
Meanwhile, the BJP seized on Abdullah’s remarks to target the Congress, claiming that his disapproval of the “vote chori” allegation had “exposed the lack of credibility behind the Congress’ narrative”.
Reacting to Abdullah’s comments, BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya said the National Conference leader publicly distancing the INDIA bloc from the charge of “vote theft” was an embarrassment for Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. “When allies disown such serious allegations, it exposes the lack of coordination and credibility behind the Congress narrative,” Malviya said in a post on X.
Omar Abdullah also commented on the recent controversy surrounding the 850-MW Ratle Hydroelectric Power Project in Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar district.
Noting that power projects under execution in the Union territory are construction works of national importance, Abdullah said that law enforcement agencies should take action against anyone obstructing it.
"There should be no (political) interference and (if there is any) it should be viewed very seriously," Abdullah said.
His remarks came a couple of days after a senior officer associated with the construction of the power project accused a local BJP MLA of interfering in the works, and warned that continued disruptions could force the company to pull out of the project.
On December 4, Joint Chief Operating Officer of Megha Engineering and Infrastructure Limited (MEIL), Harpal Singh, claimed that certain politicians and their local supporters, who are neither employees nor workers of the project, attempted to pressure and threaten project officers to fulfil illegitimate demands, including the award of contracts and large-scale recruitment, despite there being no vacancies.
Slamming the inaction of the authorities, the CM remarked that had the accusation been against one of his ministers, the situation would have been different.
"Had this accusation been levelled against one of my ministers, the ACB (Anti-Corruption Bureau) would have already conducted raids. These are projects of national importance, and no interference should be allowed," he said.
"So far, the name of only one MLA is being mentioned, but two opposition MLAs are interfering in all projects in Kishtwar district," he alleged.
The chief minister said several departments are yet to be transferred to the elected government.
"I am the power minister, but the power development corporation is not with the elected government," he said.
NHPC Limited, India's premier hydropower company under the Ministry of Power, has formed Ratle Hydroelectric Power Corporation Limited, a joint venture company (JVC) with Jammu and Kashmir State Power Development Corporation Ltd (JKSPDC), for the implementation of the run-of-river hydroelectric plant on the Chenab river at Drabshalla village.
The construction work is being undertaken by MEIL.
Asked to comment on the NIA all set to file a chargesheet in the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack case, Abdullah said it was a matter before the court, which will decide on it.
On revival of tourism in the Union territory, he said Jammu and Kashmir would, to a large extent, have to depend on help from the heavens.
"If we do not get a good snowfall at places like Gulmarg, Pahalgam and Sonamarg, a significant section of tourists will not come here. Beyond that, we are making all efforts to revive tourism here," he said.
Responding to rising airfares, Abdullah said it was not happening only in Kashmir but across the country.
"Capping of airfares has been a failure across the country. After the IndiGo fiasco, the Government of India sent out clear instructions on capping airfares, but it did not work. We also suffered because of it, and we do not have a remedy for it," he said.
About the terror attack in Australia's Bodi Beach that claimed at least 15 lives, the chief minister said, "The fact is that innocent people were killed. No religion allows you to kill innocent people. I salute the brave man who put his own life at risk and snatched the rifle of the assailant. He saved so many lives!"
(With inputs from PTI)