Omar calls BJP, PDP 'two sides of same coin'

Describing rightwing Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) and regional Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as two sides of the same coin, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Saturday alleged both the parties were inherently opposed to Article 370, which gives special status to the state.

Addressing election rallies in Beerwah Assembly segment of central Kashmir’s Budgam district, he said, “While (PDP patron) Mufti Mohammad Sayeed eroded Article 370 from 1953 to 1975, (Prime Minister) Narendra Modi wants to abrogate it.”

“I am amazed that Mufti can openly talk about Article 370 when it was none other than him who played important role in its erosion when Sher-e-Kashmir Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah (National Conference founder and Omar’s grandfather) was languishing in jail for 23 years. It is a historical fact that Mufti pioneered some of the worst political constitutional erosions when it comes to J&K’s special status. This inherent hypocrisy and irony is a typical example of what PDP is all about,” he said.

He assured the people of Jammu and Kashmir that their interests and political rights will be ‘safeguarded from BJP and its proxies like PDP within the state.’ “We have thousands of sacrifices behind our backs and we are emboldened in our resolve to stand up for the honour and dignity of our people when BJP has launched an all-out offensive to trivialise, humiliate and stereotype the people of Jammu and Kashmir,” the chief minister asserted.