Wangchuk’s arrest unfortunate
Suhail Bhat
Srinagar, Sept 26: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today said that his party would never allow the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to come to power in Jammu and Kashmir.
“We will not allow them to come to power. If they want to block our Statehood, so be it. We will continue our work,” Omar told reporters here.
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He said it is unfortunate that Ladakhi activist Sonam Wangchuk has been arrested and accused the Central Government of going back on promises made to the people of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
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“It is unfortunate that activist Sonam Wangchuk has been arrested, but the way the Central Government has been after him since yesterday, it seemed they were going to do something like this,” he said.
Omar added that the Centre made some promises to them, as it did to Jammu and Kashmir. “Now I do not understand what compels the Central Government to turn away from its promises after making them,” he said.
The Chief Minister recalled the period before the Ladakh Hill Council elections, when people were prepared to boycott the polls. “Before the election of the Hill Council, a Central Minister went to Leh because people had decided to boycott the election. Promises were made in order for them to contest the election. People participated in the election. Not only did they take part, but they also made the BJP successful. Yet those promises remained unfulfilled, just like the promises made to us,” he said.
Omar said people in Jammu and Kashmir were also given assurances. “They made some promises to us, based on which people participated in the election, and we formed a Government here. But I do not understand what compels the Central Government, after making promises, not to follow them,” he said.
Responding to remarks from the Leader of the Opposition, Sunil Sharma, who accused him of justifying the situation and violence in Ladakh, Abdullah rejected the charge. “Why should I justify the violence? The LOP should first explain why this situation has arisen. The LOP is used to finding excuses; where he is at fault, he tries to blame someone else. I am not the LG of Ladakh. The security of Ladakh is not my responsibility, nor have I justified the violence anywhere. He should explain why the promises made to Ladakh were not kept,” he said.
The Chief Minister also questioned the BJP’s approach to Statehood for Jammu and Kashmir. “What is the compulsion of the BJP? Is it the fault of the people of Jammu and Kashmir that the LOP is the LOP and not the CM? Does the LOP have to become the CM to secure Statehood? If that is the case, then tell the court that until the BJP forms the Government, Jammu and Kashmir will not get Statehood,” he said.
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