Ifla Aijaz
Kargil, September 30 – Omar Abdullah, the Vice President of Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (JKNC), delivered impassioned speeches at consecutive public rallies in Drass and Kargil in anticipation of the upcoming LAHDC (Kargil) elections. In his addresses, he expressed concern about the perceived bias of the Ladakh administration towards JKNC, highlighting the growing support for his party among the populace.
Omar Abdullah was accompanied by notable party members, including Additional General Secretary Qamar Ali Akhoon, Provincial President Nasir Aslam Wani Sogami, senior leader Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi, Party Treasurer Shammi Oberoi, Chief spokesperson Tanvir Sadiq, DP Kargil Haji Hanifa Jan, and Youth leader Waqar Khan.
A statement from the party reported an incident during Omar Abdullah’s visit where his convoy was halted at Zero Point Mini Marg, and his security detail was not allowed to proceed, forcing him to continue his two-day visit to Kargil without security.
In his speeches, Omar Abdullah criticized the Ladakh administration’s actions and mentioned their attempts to prevent National Conference candidates from using the plough symbol. He highlighted the court battles that followed, noting that they ultimately upheld the party’s symbol. He expressed hope that JKNC candidates would outperform BJP candidates.
Omar Abdullah encouraged Kargil residents to use their votes wisely, emphasizing that this was the first opportunity to voice their opinions since August 5, 2019. He urged them to send a clear message through their votes about whether they accepted or rejected the decisions made on that day.
The Vice President criticized BJP, questioning the party’s stance towards Muslims and their representation in the government. He also questioned why, despite being a significant portion of the population, there was no Muslim minister in the central government.
Omar Abdullah spoke about the challenges faced by Ladakh after 2019 and expressed concern that elections in Jammu and Kashmir would result in no ministers, MLAs, MLCs, or Rajya Sabha members from Kargil and Ladakh.
Additionally, the statement from the party reported that JKNC’s WADA (War Against Drug Addiction) Committee, presided over by former Minister A R Rather, adopted a draft report on substance abuse after more than ten committee sessions. The draft recommendations were unanimously approved, and the report is set to be submitted to the party leadership. The committee was established to address the issue of increasing drug abuse in Jammu and Kashmir and gather suggestions for its resolution.
