SRINAGAR, November 25: National Conference Vice President Omar Abdullah asserted on Saturday that normalcy is absent in Jammu and Kashmir, contradicting claims made by some. Omar’s statement followed a recent encounter in Rajouri, resulting in the death of five individuals, including two officers and two militants.
“There is no normalcy; those making such claims are not only deceiving themselves but also misleading the people of the country,” remarked Omar, the former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir. He highlighted that during his tenure, Rajouri experienced a state of normalcy, with minimal militant presence.
“When you are talking about Rajouri, Kokernag, or north Kashmir, such encounters are sporadic,” mentioned the National Conference Vice President. Omar suggested that the BJP’s apprehension about their existence led to the delayed conduct of ULB, Panchayat, and Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir.
Responding to questions, Omar expressed satisfaction with the success of most party conventions. “I don’t claim that the National Conference will secure all the votes, but I can confidently say that if elections were held, people would participate overwhelmingly,” he stated. He attributed the fear within the BJP as the reason behind the postponement of ULB and Panchayat elections, with no indication of holding Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir.
