PDP, BJP hatching conspiracy against Article 370: Omar

Omar along with senior NC leaders visited Martyrs’ Graveyard at the shrine of Hazrat Naqshband Sahib (RA) in Nowhatta area and paid floral tributes to the martyrs.

Speaking on the occasion, Omar said, “An elaborate conspiracy is being hatched by PDP and BJP against Article 370 and the State Subject Laws of J&K.”

“This has been recently revealed in the media in reports where a particular NGO (which is affiliated to one of these two political parties) has planned to move the Supreme Court to challenge Article 370 and ask for its abrogation. While these two parties are now fielding proxy NGOs and ‘think tanks’ to move the Supreme Court against Article 370, let me be unambiguous about the resolve of NC to thwart all such overt and covert attempts,” he said.

Omar said they will do whatever it takes to safeguard Article 370 – even if it means demanding that NC be made a party on the defense of this appeal. “We are ready to field our own team of lawyers for this purpose as PDP’s complicity in this assault on Article 370 is beyond any doubt. So – their intentions to mount a weak defense are evident”.

Stating that need of the hour was to emulate courage of those martyrs by pledging to uphold their sacrifices, he said, “We need to understand that the cause of our political identity and that of our political autonomy stands threatened by external as well as internal foes and conspirators. It is because of the sacrifices of these martyrs and thousands like them that we have a flag and an identity today”.

“It then becomes our sacred duty to protect our flag, to protect our unique political identity and to thwart all attempts to dilute Article 370 and our special status. That would be the best homage to these valiant heroes and martyrs”, NC Working President said.

He said let me make it clear that people of J&K are not saleable and cannot be bought and sold through economic packages while their political rights and their dignity is bartered. “When Sheikh Sahib was incarcerated, Bakshi Ghulam Mohammad got numerous economic packages and a flood of money and slush funds. We all know how futile that nefarious plan turned out to be. Our party and our people are the vanguards in a battle to safeguard our State from all evil plans – and economic packages won’t change that”.

Omar also expressed amusement at how Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed flew to Delhi to throw an Iftar Party for the BJP and how brazenly the same party was boycotted by the saffron party.

“Throwing a party in Delhi with the exchequer’s money, CM is bending over backwards to flatter and please the BJP. What is tragic is the fact that CM’s Delhi Iftar Party was boycotted by the BJP. This constant humiliation of the people of this State, this constant lowering of the stature of the CM’s Office is tragic and very unfortunate. While one understands Mufti’s compulsions to please and flatter the BJP, to subject the CM’s Office to such indignity is very unfortunate”, he added.

NC General Secretary Ali Mohammad Sagar, NC Additional General Secretary Dr. Sheikh Mustafa Kamal, NC Provincial President Nasir Aslam Wani, Senior NC Leaders Abdul Rahim Rather, Chowdhary Mohammad Ramzan, Mubarak Gul, Mohammad Akbar Lone besides party legislators, former legislators, senior functionaries and party workers accompanied Omar to the martyrs’ graveyard.