Omar slams media, says Afridi supported Kashmir’s freedom
SRINAGAR: FORMER chief minister and National Conference (NC) leader Omar Abdullah expressed resentment over ‘media celebrating’ Pakistan cricketer Shahid Afridi’s comments on Kashmir, saying he clearly supports the freedom for the region.
“I don’t get what sections of the Indian media are celebrating WRT #Shahidafridi’s statement. Forget what he said about Pakistan’s four provinces, the byte I saw clearly had him supporting freedom for Kashmir and criticising human rights violations so how is that a victory for India?,” Abdullah tweeted late on Wednesday.
In a video viral on social media on Wednesday, Afridi appeared to suggest that Pakistan should allow Kashmir to be independent country because Pakistan had not been able to even manage its four provinces.
“I say Pakistan doesn’t want Kashmir. Don’t give it to India either. Let Kashmir be independent. At least humanity will be alive. Let people not die. Pakistan doesn’t want Kashmir. It can’t even manage its four provinces. The big thing is insaaniyat (humanity). People who are dying there, it is painful. Any death, be it from any community, is painful,” Afridi said in the video.
After the video was reported by media here, Afridi appeared to clear his stance on his twitter handle.
“My clip is incomplete & out of context as what I said before that is missing. Kashmir is unresolved dispute & under brutal Indian occupation. It must be resolved as per UN resolution. Myself along with every Pakistani support Kashmiri freedom struggle. Kashmir belongs to Pakistan,” he tweeted.
“My comments are being misconstrued by Indian media! I'm passionate about my country and greatly value the struggles of Kashmiris. Humanity must prevail and they should get their rights,” Afridi tweeted.
OPEN TO PARTICIPATE IN ASSEMBLY POLLS
In another tweet on Wednesday, the NC leader hinted that his party would participate in assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir if fresh elections to the state legislature were announced in the near future.
“You got the control of a handful of towns & cities because NC & PDP stayed away (and the Congress did such a poor job of putting up a fight). Do you really think we will give you a walkover in the Assembly polls?” Abdullah wrote on his Twitter handle.
He was responding to BJP national general secretary Ram Madhav.