Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday claimed that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was attempting to divide voters in his state, adding that only his party, the National Conference (NC) can unite the people of the state.
"The BJP wears a mask when it comes to Kashmir, but occasionally that mask slips. The remarks by a union minister have revealed the true face of the party. She says that all non-believers of Lord Ram are bastards. Kashmiris will not vote for such a party. We are spreading the message that only the NC can stem the divisive forces of the BJP in the state," Abdullah told ANI.
Abdullah also denied claims of the BJP that the NC had orchestrated 'political terrorism' via the recent attacks in Kashmir to scare voters away.
"I do not command the security forces in Jammu and Kashmir. The army is not in my command, otherwise I would have removed the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) long ago. Most of the military and paramilitary forces operating in Jammu and Kashmir answer to the Centre," he said.
"During the elections, even the police are not under my command - they are answerable either to the Union Home Ministry or to the Election Commission," he added.
Abdullah further stated that Jammu and Kashmir has realised that it gains nothing by boycotting elections.
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"The people of Kashmir want to solve all the problems that they have faced by themselves. They have realised that they gain nothing by boycotting the polls," he said.
On Monday, Minister of State for Food Processing Industries Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti made certain controversial remarks during a rally in the national capital, which led to uproar in both Houses of the Parliament, with the opposition calling for her resignation from the Union Cabinet.