Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday criticised the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for its silence on Article 370, and accused the ruling party at the Center of backtracking on issues that it had raised.
"You should ask the BJP that what changed in these seven months that now their issues are disappearing. Either we have pressurized them so much, or we have questioned them on the basis of facts on [Article] 370, that now they don't have answer for this. I feel it's just to betray the people of Jammu and Kashmir; they will again raise [Article] 370 in future elections. It's their habit to remember many issues when not in power but forget after coming to power," Abdullah said while addressing a rally here.
Abdullah further stated that not implementing the Food Security Act in Jammu and Kashmir was a decision that his government after a lot of deliberation.
"Jammu and Kashmir is the only state in India where implementing the Food Security Act would actually remove food cover from more than 30 lakh people. I am not willing to implement a piece of legislation from New Delhi that is not beneficial to my people. As long as the Food Security Act denies people food rather than providing them, I will be the last person to implement this. This was a considered decision and I am glad I did it," Abdullah said.
He further denied allegations by the BJP that the state government was not doing any work for the development of Jammu and Kashmir and was misusing people's money.
"No area is left in the state where development work hasn't been done or money has been misused. The BJP can hold an enquiry if they want. Money went directly to people from us, but they only sent Rs. 1,000 crore for flood victims, whereas we had asked for Rs. 40,000 crore," he stated.
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Abdullah however thanked the people of the state for major voter turnout in the first two phases of the assembly elections despite cold weather and said that he hopes that the same level of participation would be seen in the remaining three phases.
The second phase of the legislative assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday saw a voter turnout of 71 percent, matching that of the first phase of voting.
The counting of the votes of the five-phase elections will take place on December 23.