Omar asks Modi to rein in forces trying to create a wedge

Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to rein in forces who were trying to "create a wedge" between Muslims and Hindus in the country, saying people of all religions should live together in peace and brotherhood.
Omar, the working president of National Conference (NC) was reacting to inflammatory speech made by BJP leaders in Agra.
"If Muslims would have been weak, then perhaps we would have become afraid by a statement from one BJP member.
"This is the weakness in their thinking.
"We have always believed that all religions should live together in peace and brotherhood.

"Such statements worsen the situation instead of setting it right and it will be good if Modi reins in such forces," Omar told reporters here.

The National Conference (NC) working president was speaking to media after a convention of his party's youth wing at NC headquarters.
He also criticised the Centre over the handling of JNU row saying the government either "remained silent" or "lied" whenever they said something.
Everyone with right thinking will be worried about the (JNU) situation.
The way they made arrests and then played a "propaganda war" with the arrested person by producing "fake evidence" and even taking help of television channels to broadcast "fake videos," he said.

Omar said Delhi police has itself "admitted" that there was no video "evidence" against those who have been arrested.
When those videos were analysed forensically, it was found out that those videos were "fake", he said.
In such a situation, what message are we giving to our students and our youth? That even if they speak truth, it will still be "twisted".
(REOPENS DES 36)
Omar said after the JNU episode and consequent developments, Kashmiri youth were "apprehensive" of venturing outside the state for their academic and professional pursuits.
The "victimization" of Kashmiri youth outside the state was "alarming" as they were being "openly profiled and hounded", he alleged.

During our tenure in the Government, we tried our best to open avenues of employment for our youth outside the state through landmark schemes, Omar claimed.
"Today our youngsters, students as well as job aspirants are terrified at the very prospects of venturing outside the state after the JNU issue was used as a pretext to harass our youth," Omar said.
"Where will Kashmiri students and young professional go in this poisoned atmosphere,"? he asked, alleging as it is, our youth are stereotyped, harassed and profiled without any provocation or basis.
"Now, where will they go? Who will show them the right path and protect them from radical voices who are now openly advocating tyranny and bigotry,?" the NC Working President said.

Omar however, claimed his party would protect the youth of Kashmir in this atmosphere of victimization and harassment and would offer them hope, encouragement and support.
We will stand by our youth, we will not allow anyone to harass them and defame them, he said.
While PDP has "sold its tongue" for power, NC will fight tooth and nail for the rights of our youth to live with dignity and peace of mind both within and outside the State, he said.
Omar also said NC was proud of its legacy and history and stood by its political agenda while maintaining that the Kashmir issue is a political issue that cannot be resolved through money or economics .

"We stand by our demand for the restoration of Autonomy and will never compromise with our State's honour and dignity.
"We will never betray our people for power. If someone else can achieve more than Autonomy, they are welcome to strive," he said.
We haven't stopped anyone from pursuing their proposed methods of resolving the Kashmir issue and we will continue to stand by our political stand, he added.