‘Everybody used to say NC is Muslim party, we made Hindu Deputy CM from Jammu’: Omar Abdullah

JAMMU: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday, brushed off the label of National Conference being a ‘Muslim Party’, and stated that his party has made a Hindu Deputy Chief Minister from Jammu.

He also refuted the allegations that NC is a party of Kashmir and will only work for the Kashmiris, stating that his government will serve all the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

Addressing the party workers in Jammu, first time since becoming the CM, Omar Abdullah said, “We even made the Deputy CM from the same party as the CM. In the last elections, everyone said that the National Conference was a party of Muslims, that it was an organization for Kashmiris, and that Jammu would have no place. But we made a Deputy CM who is from Jammu and is Hindu. Now what will those people say?”

“As soon as the election results came out, some of our well-wishers started spreading the rumour that Jammu will be ignored now because they did not elect NC or Congress candidates. From day one, I had said that this government would be for everyone. If we serve, we will serve all the people of Jammu and Kashmir,” Omar emphasized.

The NC-Congress alliance won the assembly polls in J&K, held after a gap of 10 years, and the first since the abrogation of Article 370. JKNC won 42 seats while the Congress managed to win six.

The BJP put up an impressive performance, bagging 29 seats, all in the Jammu region. The People’s Democratic Party won three seats and one each by the People’s Conference, CPI-M and AAP. Seven seats were also won by the Independents.

Omar Abdullah was sworn in as the first Chief Minister of the Union Territory of J&K. Surinder Kumar Choudhary, who won from the Nowshera assembly seat was sworn in as his deputy.

The J&K Chief Minister further said that in the last 8-10 years, there wasn’t just an attempt to weaken this party but to “completely destroy” it.

“Every possible method was used against us. Our comrades were threatened, intimidated, and some were lured, but the leaders of the party remained steadfast and did not let these conspiracies succeed. Everyone has proven that this organization does not belong to the leaders of the National Conference, but to the party workers,” he said.

CM Abdullah also highlighted that they do not draw their strength from the top leadership, but first from Allah, Bhagwan, and Waheguru, and then from the people of Jammu and Kashmir and the party workers.

“This organization has faced all kinds of storms. No one could have imagined that this would be the outcome after the elections. I salute the people for how they used their votes,” he added.

The J&K CM also praised independent candidates who joined Omar Abdullah-led government without any conditions.

“The independent MLAs who won joined us without any conditions. They only said that the problems of the people must be solved. Since the elected government was dissolved in 2018, the people have only faced hardships and troubles. Today, I want to assure the people here that now you will be heard. Your voices will no longer disappear into the darkness,” CM Abdullah said in Jammu. (ANI)