Page 13 - Omar Abdullah

Omar Abdullah vows to continue 'fight' against revocation of Article 370

The apex court likely to announce verdict on batch of petitions challenging the abrogation of Article 370 and its corollary Article 35-A, which provided special constitutional guarantees to J&K

We are only getting betrayed: Omar Abdullah blames Centre for power cuts

Speaking to the media, Omar Abdullah said the Kashmiris are being betrayed in the name of elections, employment and development

People should be told reasons for mobile internet suspension in J-K: Omar

After mobile internet was shut in some areas of Pulwama district in Jammu and Kashmir, National Conference (NC) vice president Omar Abdullah said on Wednesday that the authorities should tell people the reasons for such actions. Talking to reporters in Bandipora, Abdullah, a former chief minister, said he was not aware of the reason for the mobile internet shutdown. "It would be good to let the people in those areas know the reasons behind it. People are not fools...they would not protest on such a thing, but they want to understand the reason behind stopping the services," he said. Telecom service providers were directed to suspend mobile data within three km radius of Wampora and Hunipora areas of Pulwama from 7 pm on November 5 to 7 pm on November 8, officials said. The suspension order mentioned the possibility of mobile data services being misused by anti-national elements, which may cause deterioration in public order. To a question on youngsters currently in detention in ..

World proved that there are different laws for Russia, Israel: Abdullah

Speaking to the media reporters here over the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, the National Conference (NC) Vice President said that innocent people are being killed in Gaza bombings

BJP ready for polls in J-K to decimate opponents, says Kavinder Gupta

Hitting back at the National Conference's (NC) Omar Abdullah, BJP leader Kavinder Gupta has said the party leadership in Jammu and Kashmir is waiting for all kinds of political contests to decimate its opponents "brutally". Gupta on Friday said the BJP is always ready for all types of polls in Jammu and Kashmir and it is up to the Election Commission (EC) to take a call on holding the Assembly election in the Union Territory. He was reacting to Abdullah's remarks that the BJP does not want to hold the Assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir. "Those accusing the BJP of deliberately delaying the election are simply daydreaming because the BJP leadership in Jammu and Kashmir is waiting for all kinds of political contests to decimate its opponents brutally as the party enjoys tremendous support of the electorate -- whether it is in Jammu, Kashmir or any other part of the Union Territory," Gupta said. The former Jammu and Kashmir deputy chief minister said the saffron party is ever ready fo

Canada should share evidence of Nijjar's killing with India: Omar

National Conference leader Omar Abdullah on Thursday said Canada should share the evidence about killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar with India to prove its allegations and enable New Delhi to take "corrective measures", if needed. Canada is alleging that India did some incident in that country. They should share the evidence with India, Abdullah told reporters here. He said Minister for External Affairs S Jaishankar has said India will take action if Ottawa shares its evidence with New Delhi. India has said the same thing at the UN as well. The foreign minister said if there is any evidence, share it. If there is a need for taking any corrective measures after that, India will do it. Only verbal claims would not work, the evidence should be shared with India, Abdullah, who was Minister of State for External Affairs in the Vajpayee-led government, said. On the friction in relations between India and Canada, the former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir said, "It was unfortunate". The

Duty on American apples relaxed as PM wanted Biden as R-Day guest: Omar

The import duty on American apples and walnuts was relaxed as Prime Minister Narendra Modi wanted US President Joe Biden to be the chief guest at the 2024 Republic Day parade, National Conference vice president Omar Abdullah said on Thursday. "It is now known what compelled the central government to remove the tax on American apples and walnuts. The prime minister (Narendra Modi) wanted to invite the American President (Biden) as a special guest for the January 26 ceremony," he said. "They made sure that apples, walnuts and dry fruits will come from America while our own apples, walnuts and dry fruits will rot in the markets, said the NC leader while addressing a one-day party workers' convention at Handwara in north Kashmir's Kupwara district. Ahead of the G20 Summit, the Centre announced the removal of additional duties on about half a dozen US products, including apples, walnuts, almonds and lentils. These duties were imposed in 2019 in a retaliatory move after America hiked ...

Change the Constitution if you have guts, will see who supports you: Omar

The opposition alleged that the government was resorting to "drama" just because they got together and called their bloc INDIA. BJP leaders have strongly supported the move by the govt

India should reconsider support to One China policy: Omar Abdullah

Asserting that the country's foreign policy should always be based on reciprocity, former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah said on Monday if China does not accept "one India" policy, New Delhi should reconsider support to Beijing's 'One China' policy. Asking why China should have a problem with any meeting in Jammu and Kashmir or any other part of India, the National Conference Vice President said if China continues with this stance, India should also raise questions on Tibet, Taiwan and Hong Kong. "I think it's extremely unfortunate that the government of India keeps repeating its (adherence to ) One China policy yet for some reason, China doesn't reciprocate. "Our foreign policy should always be based on reciprocity. If China doesn't accept a one India policy, then why should India accept One China policy," Omar, a former Minister of State of External Affairs, said. "It shouldn't be one-sided that only China can raise questions about what happens in India and not vi

Non-adherence to building codes in hills can have lethal consequences: Omar

National Conference (NC) leader Omar Abdullah on Wednesday said people in the hill states should be mindful of the building codes while undertaking constructions as non-adherence to these guidelines can have lethal consequences. "Years of Govt apathy and wilful ignorance while multi-storey concrete structures were built on unstable hillsides has lethal consequences. Who thought these buildings were a good idea? All hill states need to be mindful of the growing impact of climate change & enforce building codes accordingly," Abdullah, the NC vice president, posted on X, formerly known as Twitter. He was reacting to a video of a house collapse on a hillside in Himachal Pradesh. Two persons were killed on Tuesday when eight houses, including six makeshift ones, collapsed and a slaughterhouse was buried under the debris following a landslide in Krishnanagar locality in Shimla.

When people can queue outside polling booths for assembly polls: Omar

National Conference leader Omar Abdullah on Tuesday offered a backhanded compliment to the Jammu and Kashmir administration, saying the "queues" outside the Independence Day function venue were "excellent" but asked when assembly elections will be held. "Excellent. So when can these same people expect to be queueing outside polling booths for assembly elections?" Omar said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter. Abdullah was responding to media reports about long queues outside Bakshi Stadium here, the venue of the main Independence Day function in Jammu and Kashmir. People's Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti also extended good wishes on the 77th Independence Day. "Happy Independence day to my fellow countrymen. May the idea of INDIA that binds us together triumph," she said in a post on X. The PDP president also posted a photograph of Mahatma Gandhi, India's first prime minister Jawahar Lal Nehru, and Maulana Abul Kalam Azad walking together.

J&K politicians have learned to live under curbs post 2019: Omar Abdullah

National Conference Vice President Omar Abdullah on Saturday said the local political leaders have grown accustomed to curbs put on their movement post-August 2019 but such measures cannot weaken their connect with the masses. The erstwhile state of Jammu & Kashmir was bifurcated into two Union Territories of Ladakh and Jammu & Kashmir in 2019, following the repeal of Article 370 which gave the former state special administrative powers. The former J&K chief minister expressed concern over the militant activity in the region, saying terrorism is rearing its head even in the area which had been declared militancy-free sometime back. Omar was talking to reporters on the sidelines of a party convention of Chenab valley zone functionaries at Batote in Ramban district. "This is not a new thing (restrictions on movement of NC leaders and PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti). After August 5, 2019, it is a regular affair and we have become habitual of it but we have also learned how to dodge

Omar Abdullah sets out on foot to office after police deny escort vehicles

Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah Thursday set out from his home on foot to reach the party office after police allegedly denied him escort vehicles and ITBP personnel cover. Abdullah, the vice president of the National Conference (NC), was scheduled to address a function at the party headquarters, Nawa-i-Subah, to pay homage to 22 Kashmiri people who were killed by the army of a Dogra ruler on this day in 1931. He alleged that the Jammu and Kashmir Police denied him his security escort vehicles and ITBP cover to visit the party headquarters. There was no immediate response from the police. Unfazed by the denial, Abdullah set out to the office near Zero Bridge on foot from his home in the Gupkar area of the city here, while a handful of his special security group personnel -- a wing of J-K Police responsible for guarding VVIPs -- were seen walking along with him. The former J-K chief minister took to Twitter and posted a video of his walk to the office. "Dear

Centre's Art 370 affidavit in SC holds no legal value, claim Mehbooba, Omar

Former chief ministers of Jammu and Kashmir Mehbooba Mufti and Omar Abdullah on Monday criticised the Centre's affidavit in the Supreme Court on the abrogation of Article 370 saying it lacked logic and had on constitutional backing. "The Centre's defence lacks logic (is) illegal & unconstitutional abrogation of Article 370," PDP President Mehbooba Mufti said in a tweet. "Brute majority was used to subvert the Indian constitution that extended guarantees to the people of J&K & GOI also violated earlier rulings of Hon'ble SC which held that only J&K's constituent assembly could recommend the removal of Article 370 to the President of India," she said. The once-BJP ally also said that "drum beating about an enforced silence" in the region cannot be used to "justify constitutional harakiri." National Conference leader Omar Abdullah also took to Twitter saying the arguments put forth by the government were political and had little in the way of legality. "These are ...

Omar Abdullah calls yoga event at Budgam's sufi saint shrine 'photo-op'

Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah has criticised the holding of the International Yoga Day event on the lawns of a revered shrine in Budgam district, calling the programme a "photo-op." The Army had on Wednesday, in collaboration with the administration, organised a yoga session for school students on the lawns of the shrine of Sufi saint Sheikh Noor-ud-Din Noorani, popularly known as Sheikh-Ul-Alam and Alamdar-e-Kashmir, at Charar-e-Shareef in the central Kashmir district. "The burial place of one of our most revered saints is used as a venue for a yoga day photo op!" Abdullah, the vice president of the National Conference (NC), said in a tweet. Srinagar Mayor Junaid Azim Mattu too took exception to the event calling it "absolutely hare-brained." "An absolutely hare-brained, inconsiderate idea to organise a demonstration at the shrine of Sheikh Noor-ud-Din Noorani, Sheikh-Ul-Alam (RA). "I'm all for Yoga but this is immensely problematic. Places of religious ..

EC should tell people why no elections in Jammu and Kashmir: Omar Abdullah

National Conference leader Omar Abdullah on Tuesday said the Election Commission should muster courage to tell people why assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir are not being held. "Is there a pressure on them (EC) not to hold elections? Let the Election Commission show some courage and say that they are under pressure. There is something fishy," Abdullah told reporters outside the party headquarters here. Abdullah, a former chief minister, said the Election Commission should be asked when it plans to hold elections in Jammu and Kashmir. "The media seems to be more concerned about the elections than us. Election is our right but we are not going down on our knees for it. If they want to snatch the right of people of Jammu and Kashmir, if they get some pleasure out of it, let them do it. We also have some self-respect and dignity, he said. He said the Chief Election Commissioner, during his last visit to the Union territory, admitted that there was a vacuum in Jammu and Kashmir. "

Odisha train mishap: Mehbooba, Omar extend condolences to victims, families

PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti and National Conference leader Omar Abdullah on Saturday extended their condolences to the families of those killed in the Odisha train accident. The leader of the People's Democratic Party said in a Tweet,"Shocked to hear about the train accident in Odisha. Words aren't enough words to convey my sympathies to the families of those who lost their live." "Heads should have rolled by now, but in today's India no one is accountable," she added. Meanwhile, NC leader Omar Abdullah said, "The images & survivor accounts from the railway crash site in Odisha are horrific. The accident has left countless individuals scarred & families bereave." He said words are poor consolation at a time like this "but I'd like to convey my sympathies to the families of the deceased & prayers for those injured". "May the almighty give them strength," he added. The accident involving two passenger trains and a stationary goods train has led to the loss of life of at least ..

New Parliament building looks pretty damn impressive: Omar Abdullah

National Conference leader Omar Abdullah on Friday said the new Parliament building was a welcome addition and looks "pretty damn impressive", amid criticism by the opposition over its inauguration. Abdullah, whose party's MPs have also announced to boycott the inaugural ceremony, said when he was the member of the Lok Sabha, many of his colleagues often spoke about the need for a new and improved Parliament building. "Setting aside the brouhaha about the inauguration for a moment, this building is a welcome addition. The old Parliament House has served us well but as someone who has worked there for a few years, a lot of us often spoke amongst ourselves about the need for a new and improved Parliament building. Better late than never is all I'll say and this one looks pretty damn impressive," the NC vice president wrote on Twitter. As many as 19 opposition parties, including the Congress, Left, TMC, SP and AAP, came together on Wednesday and announced their decision to boycott the

BJP won't have courage to allow assembly poll in J-K: Omar on K'taka result

National Conference (NC) leader Omar Abdullah on Saturday said there is "no way" the BJP will have the courage to "allow" assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir after its performance in the Karnataka polls. The Congress, which has won 74 of the 224 assembly seats in Karnataka so far and is leading in 62, is striding towards victory, while the BJP has won 34 and is ahead in 30, according to the latest trends on the Election Commission website. "Now there is no way BJP will have the courage to allow assembly elections to take place in Jammu and Kashmir any time soon #KarnatakaElectionResults," Abdullah, the vice president of the NC, said in a tweet. Non-BJP parties, including NC, PDP and Congress, in Jammu and Kashmir have been demanding assembly elections in the Union Territory. The last assembly polls in the erstwhile state took place in 2014. In 2018, the then Governor Satya Pal Malik dissolved the assembly after the BJP withdrew support to the Mehbooba Mufti led PDP-BJP alliance

Bharat Jodo Yatra aimed at changing India's situation: Omar Abdullah

The Bharat Jodo Yatra's aim is not to "improve" Rahul Gandhi's image but to change the prevailing atmosphere of the country, National Conference leader Omar Abdullah said Friday as he joined the Congress' Kanyakumari to Kashmir march passing through here. The former chief minister, however, sidestepped questions on the Congress' stand on the revocation of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir, saying he does not want to delve into it. "We have joined this march not for the image of an individual but for the image of the country," Abdullah said. He claimed that Rahul Gandhi did not start the yatra for personal reasons but due to his concern over the "attempts of creating communal tensions and targeting minorities" in the country. "The Bharat Jodo Yatra is not aimed at improving the image of Rahul Gandhi but for improving the situation in the country," the National Conference (NC) leader told reporters upon his arrival in this highway town, 120 kilometres from Srinagar. "This ...