Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah took shots at the current UT administration saying that the militancy was on revival, when it was wiped out during his rule and youth are again taking up arms.
“They promised peace in Jammu and Kashmir but it is nowhere to be seen. During our rule (NC-Congress between 2009 and 2015), we removed security pickets from interior parts of Srinagar which were cleared of militancy and were also thinking of revoking the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA),” Omar said while addressing a public rally at Doda bus stand on Sunday.
“From Kupwara to Jawahar Tunnel, we see all the militancy-cleared pockets witnessing a revival in militancy. The militants have not come from outside but the disillusioned local youths are picking up the guns,” Omar said, adding three youths killed in a recent encounter in Rambagh locality of Srinagar picked up the gun after 2019. “And they (ruling dispensation) are making claims that nobody is joining militant ranks”.
“If the youth are still joining militant ranks, whom do they want to mislead. The separatists called for a general strike in protest against the killing of innocents in the November 15 Hyderpora encounter and the strike was total with not a single shop open in Srinagar. They are claiming that the separatist sentiment in J&K is dead,” Omar said.
Abdullah said the claims of the Central government on ending militancy and separatism proved false as did its remarks that Article 370 created an obstacle for the outside investment and for the overall development of the J&K.