Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister and National Conference (NC) vice-president Omar Abdullah on Thursday advised Pakistan to focus on its democratic position. Reacting to Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif’s remarks on Article 370, Abdullah said Pakistan should mind its own house and not interfere in the Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections.
Speaking to reporters in Budgam, Kashmir, Omar Abdullah questioned Pakistan’s defence minister’s comments on Jammu and Kashmir elections. “What does Pakistan have to do with us? We are not part of Pakistan. They should take care of their country and let us take care of our country. It is not right for them to interfere in our elections or comment on the election process. They should protect their democracy and let us participate in our democratic process,” he said.
It is noteworthy that Pakistan’s Defense Minister had said in an interview that Pakistan and the National Conference-Congress alliance agree on the issue of restoration of Article 370 and 35A in Jammu and Kashmir. The National Conference has promised to support the restoration of Article 370 in its manifesto, while the Congress has maintained silence on the controversial issue. NC President Farooq Abdullah told a news agency, “I don’t know what Pakistan says. I am not a Pakistani, I am an Indian citizen.”
After the statement of the Pakistani minister, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) targeted the Congress and the National Conference. Union Home Minister Amit Shah posted on his Twitter account that this statement of the Defense Minister of Pakistan has once again exposed the face of the Congress. He said, “This statement once again makes it clear that the intentions and agenda of Congress and Pakistan are the same. In the last few years, Rahul Gandhi has tried to stand with every force that is anti-India. Whether it is asking for proof of air strikes and surgical strikes or saying objectionable things about the Indian Army, Rahul Gandhi’s Congress Party and Pakistan’s tune have always been the same.” Shah stressed, “But, the Congress Party and Pakistan forget that there is a Modi government at the Center, so neither Article 370 will come back nor terrorism.”
It is worth noting that in August 2019, the BJP-led government repealed Articles 370 and 35A in Parliament, ending the special status of Jammu and Kashmir. After this, the state was divided into two union territories – Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. Since then, local mainstream parties like NC and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) have been talking about the restoration of Article 370, while the Congress has promised to restore the state status of Jammu and Kashmir. Describing Pakistan as “a terrorist country”, BJP leader Amit Malviya said that it supports the stand of Congress and National Conference on Kashmir.
