NC attacks Shah for his dynastic politics jibe

Ruling National Conference hit out at BJP President Amit Shah for his dynastic politics jibe at Jammu and Kashmir's Abdullah family saying Omar Abdullah was an elected leader of the people of the state.

"Amit Shah's provocative and self-righteous comments about an elected premiere of a state is an assault on the sanctity of democracy and democratic institutions.

"Both Omar Abdullah and his government have been empowered by the courageous people of this state to steer them towards reconciliation, prosperity and dignity," National Conference spokesman Junaid Mattu said in a statement here. He said BJP's posturing on so-called 'dynastic politics' is full of hypocrisy.

"Should one remind the BJP President of how the BJP Prime Ministerial candidate mocked others over 'dynastic politics' during a rally in Chattisgarh by claiming that had Raman Singh, the BJP Chief Minister, been a Congress politician, his son would have received a party ticket. Weeks later Raman Singh's son, Abhishek, indeed got a party ticket and that too from the same BJP that pontificates on 'dynastic politics'," Mattu said.

He cited examples of Jayant Sinha, Anurag Thakur, Dushyant Singh, Poonam Mahajan, Parvesh Verma, Rajbir Singh and Chirag Paswan as second generation leaders in BJP and NDA.

Mattu said Shah's remarks in Jammu were unsurprising as the party was trying to polarize the state for short-term electoral interests despite the dangers that are associated with such type of politics, as was last witnessed in 2008.

"We have witnessed numerous such challenges since 1947 and have always persisted and always emerged victorious – every single time. The forces asking for the revocation of Article 370 are as old as the history of Article 370," he said.

Addressing a public rally in Kathua here, on his first visit to the state after becoming BJP chief last month, Amit Shah lashed out at dynastic politics.

"BJP is fighting to make 'Congress-mukt bharat' (Congress-free India) and Jammu and Kashmir is a part of the country. So to make J&K Congress-free, you have to fight to make the state free from Abdullah and Mufti dynasties," he said.

"In J&K, the Abdullah family is replaced by Mufti and vice versa. The governments changes, but the development of the people and state remain at a stand still," Shah said.

Junaid Mattu said National Conference epitomised internal democracy and was not remote-controlled from a Nagpur-esque control tower by political bosses as is the case with BJP.

"Omar Abdullah was entrusted with the reins of National Conference by our delegates, block committees and grassroots workers and he has proved his mettle as our most able and our tallest leader.

"Mandates in National Conference are not given for instance by remote-control bosses and patrons of a 'parent organisation'," he added.

On Shah's charge that state government did nothing to provide relief to people affected by ceasefire violations by Pakistan, the spokesman said the issue of ceasefire violations between India and Pakistan was a domain of the Central Government and the Defence Ministry.

"The State Government had repeatedly voiced its concern for those citizens of J&K who live along the Line of Control and the International Border and will continue to do so. Rather than making this a political issue, BJP should ensure that talks with Pakistan are effective and sustained so that people on both sides of the Line of Control and International Border get a respite from such disruption of their lives," he added.