Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has accused the administration and police of treating the BJP and National Conference protests differently in Srinagar. He said that there can be no comparison between the two demonstrations. This statement comes after PDP President Mehbooba Mufti alleged that the administration helps NC-BJP protests, while PDP protests are repeatedly stopped.
Speaking to reporters in Srinagar, Omar alleged that while the administration facilitated the BJP's protests, National Conference workers were stopped from marching towards the BJP office and several party workers were reportedly injured.
Omar Abdullah said, “Please, do not make false comparisons. Because there was no similarity in the way the administration and the police treated both the parties. One got help and the other was brutally suppressed.” He claimed that some of his party colleagues were dragged and injured during the protest, following which some required treatment.
Referring to the media coverage of the BJP protest, the Chief Minister said, “The BJP was taken away with security. You were present there. I saw many of you accompanying that protest.” Omar also responded to opposition leader Sunil Sharma's demand for resignation and said he would not step down to please the BJP leader.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said, “Why should I resign?” He stressed that the people of Jammu and Kashmir have given his government a mandate of five years. He said, “The people of Jammu and Kashmir have given us five years. We will present our report card before the public after five years.”
On the allegations of backdoor appointments, the Chief Minister raised the question as to which investigating agency has confirmed such allegations. He told that Anti-Corruption Bureau, Crime Branch and CID are not under his control. He also welcomed the Supreme Court's decision to cancel the FIR against the young protesters and said that such cases should not have been registered against them.
On concerns about the threat looming over Jammu and Kashmir due to recent incidents in Nepal and glacial lake outburst floods (GLOF), Omar said the government has already started research on this potential threat. “We did not wait for Nepal. We already knew that GLOF could definitely pose a threat to Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.
The Chief Minister said funds were allocated in his first budget for research on GLOF, and research institutes, universities and experts are working to assess its threat and suggest prevention measures. “Whatever advice we get from experts, we will definitely consider,” Omar said.