Examiner Bureau | Srinagar:
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday accused the police and administration of adopting “double standards” in dealing with protests organised by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the National Conference (NC), alleging that BJP leaders were facilitated during their march while NC protesters were subjected to force.
Speaking to reporters, Abdullah said the contrasting treatment of the two demonstrations reflected the prevailing situation in Jammu and Kashmir.
“You saw one protest that was denied,” Abdullah said, alleging that BJP protesters were allowed to march towards the Civil Secretariat while the NC was prevented from holding a demonstration outside the BJP office.
The Chief Minister was referring to the day’s two separate protests. NC leaders and workers had assembled near the Gindun Sports Complex in Rajbagh and planned to march towards the BJP headquarters in Jawahar Nagar to press for restoration of statehood. Police stopped the protesters from proceeding further.
The BJP, meanwhile, held a protest near the Clock Tower in Lal Chowk against what it described as the failures of the J&K Government. The party had planned a gherao of the Civil Secretariat but was stopped by police near Hari Singh High Street.
Abdullah said he had seen videos of journalists interacting with BJP leaders during their march and questioned the differing treatment.
“I saw many of you accompanying that protest. The ease with which you were able to interview the Leader of Opposition, Sunil Sharma, was seen by all. You saw how the BJP was allowed to protest, but the NC was not,” he said.
Rejecting what he termed attempts to draw a comparison between the two protests, Abdullah alleged that NC leaders and workers were dragged and injured during the police action, with some requiring medical treatment.
“Please don’t draw false equals. One side was facilitated, the other was brutally repressed,” he said.
Responding to Sunil Sharma’s demand for his resignation as Chief Minister, Abdullah dismissed the demand and said he had no reason to step down.
“Why should I resign?” he asked, questioning whether the Centre had any intention of restoring statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.
Abdullah said the people of J&K had given the National Conference a five-year mandate and asserted that his government would remain accountable to the electorate.
He also criticised the BJP over allegations of corruption and backdoor appointments, asking what investigations had been conducted into such claims.
“If backdoor appointments took place, which agency investigated them? Let him name just one,” Abdullah said, pointing out that the Anti-Corruption Bureau, Crime Branch and CID were not under his direct control.
“Tell us, where was an FIR filed?” he asked.
The Chief Minister accused the BJP of making what he described as baseless allegations and said his government was dealing with problems inherited from the previous administration.
“We are bearing the brunt of their mistakes; we are trying to fix them, yet they are the ones protesting,” he said.
Asked about RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s recent remarks that Muslims cannot be downgraded, Abdullah said the statement needed to be reflected in practice.
“Making a statement is one thing; putting it into practice is another,” he said, adding that the remarks “sounded good” but should also be visible on the ground.
Commenting on the Supreme Court’s decision to quash FIRs registered against students who participated in protests led by the group referred to as the “Cockroach Janta Party” (CJP), Abdullah said the BJP had been “on the back foot” for some time.
The Supreme Court on Tuesday quashed the FIRs registered against students who participated in CJP-led protests between July 20 and 25 and directed the Centre to provide compensation to the families of students who died by suicide over the NEET paper-leak controversy within three months.
The court’s directions followed the protests held across several parts of the country, after which the group reportedly called off its proposed September 5 march in New Delhi.
