PDP’s complete subservience to BJP alarming for state, says Omar Abdullah

The multifold increase in number of pellet guns (from around 600 to 6,000) shows that the present government has chosen not to learn any lesson.

SRINAGAR National Conference (NC) working president Omar Abdullah on Friday said the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP’s) ‘continued subservience to the BJP’ is alarming and could have long-lasting adverse implications on the state and its stability.

A party press statement mentioned that Abdullah made the comment while addressing the party functionaries and workers in Beerwah. The statement also read that in an event in Beerwah, ‘hundreds of political workers belonging to various parties including the PDP, joined NC’.

Meanwhile, Abdullah also criticised the reported increase in number of pellet guns in the Valley. “The increase in number of pellet guns from around 600 to now around 6,000 shows that the present government has chosen not to learn any lesson from the latest unrest and devastating effect caused by pellet guns resulting in partial or complete eyesight loss of hundreds of children,” Abdullah said.

“We all remember Mehbooba’s statements and press conferences on the use of pellet guns when she was in the Opposition. Unfor- tunately, despite the enormous and staggering human costs of using these guns that we witnessed in 2016, Mehbooba remains unmoved. Imagine the height of hypocrisy and shamelessness that this government has the audacity to not only continue with the use of pellet guns, but also increase their number ten-fold. Making customary offers of donating her eyes to pellet guns cannot absolve Mehbooba of this new U-turn,” he said. Abdullah also expressed disthe appointment at PDP’s deafening silence on comments made by senior BJP leader and its Member of Parliament, Sakshi Maharaj, who had recently remarked that there is no place for Muslims to be buried in India and they should be cremated.

“BJP can’t even muster the courage to oppose Sakshi Maharaj’s statement denigrating Muslims and questioning their right to be buried. PDP is a partner of BJP and its silence in the face of such brazen statements means that PDP is a part and parcel of such communal programmes that are aimed at harassing and intimidating minorities in order to derive political dividends in elections around the country”, he added.