Headlines
Mufti implementing RSS agenda in Kashmir: Ex-CM Omar
Srinagar, June 13
The National Conference on
Saturday accused Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Muhammad Sayeed
of implementing the agenda of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in
the state.
"When I was ruling the state, it had two centres -
Srinagar and Jammu. But now the state government has only one centre
that is Nagpur," former chief minister Omar Abdullah said referring to
the RSS headquarters.
"Today all the strings are pulled from there (Nagpur)."
Abdullah
led a large anti-government rally from Municipal Park, which is
adjacent to the headquarters of ruling Peoples Democratic Party, to the
business hub of Regal chowk here.
Protestors, which included
former ministers and senior NC leaders, termed the the PDP and the
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) coalition government in the state as
"anti-Muslim and anti-Article 370".
The Article 370 of the constitution provides special status to the state and its repeal is one of the core agendas of the BJP.
"This
government has shown its true colours in just 100 days of its
formation. Despite having political differences with the PDP, we had
offered our unconditional support to it, so that the BJP's march could
be stopped," said Abdullah, who is also the working president of the NC.
He said PDP patron Sayeed sought votes from people by promising to stop the BJP and providing relief to flood affected people.
"But
alas! Both of his (Sayeed's) promises have proven to be a hoax. Mufti
Sayeed formed the government with the support of the BJP and left flood
victims high and dry," Abdullah said.
"Ask our traders," he said,
referring to shopkeepers of the Regal chowk, which was badly hit by
floods last year, "have they received any relief from the government.
Whatever little they received was only from our government."
The
former chief minister also criticised Prime Minsiter Narendra Modi for
failing to provide Rs.44,000 crore flood package sought by his
government.
"I was there when you (Modi) promised help and even
offered support to Pakistan occupied Kashmir. Fortunately they (PoK)
didn't heed, otherwise they too would have been on roads demanding
relief like us," Abdullah said.
Abdullah said they would make sure that the state government provides relief to people and delivers on ground.
Visibly
feeling irritated by police blockades to prevent the NC rally from
moving ahead, Abdullah asked his supports to march towards Lal Chowk,
which is 500 metres from the Regal chowk.
The enthusiastic NC
supporters removed police blockades as Abdullah waived the party's red
flag from historic clock tower, which has remained centre of flag
waiving in separatist rallies.