No ‘Eknath Shinde’ in NC, party fully united: CM Omar Abdullah

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday hit back at the BJP over remarks on cabinet expansion, saying there was “no Eknath Shinde in the National Conference” and that all legislators of the party stood united. He blamed the delay in expansion on the non-restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.

Omar accused the BJP of pursuing “blackmail politics” over the issue of J&K’s statehood and said the delay in cabinet expansion was linked to the Union Territory’s status and not due to any fear within the ruling National Conference.

Responding to remarks of Sunil Sharma, Leader of Opposition in the J&K Assembly, Omar said there was “no Eknath Shinde in the National Conference” and asserted that all party legislators stood united.

“It is obvious that Sharma is impatient to sit on the chair of Jammu and Kashmir’s minister,” Omar told reporters in Srinagar.

Referring to the ongoing debate around delimitation, the chief minister said we suffered due to their delimitation that was done in J&K “only to benefit the BJP and its friendly parties”.

Omar said the cabinet expansion had not been stalled due to political instability or fear but because statehood was yet to be restored to Jammu and Kashmir.

Omar further accused the BJP of trying to obstruct functioning of the elected government in Jammu and Kashmir.

“LoP sahib proves with his statements that until BJP gets a government here, they will not let us work properly and they will not make Jammu and Kashmir a state,” Omar said.

He alleged that the people of Jammu and Kashmir were being “threatened in the name of statehood” and said those who voted for the BJP in the last election should remember that the party was indulging in “blackmail politics”.

Meanwhile, National Conference President Dr. Farooq Abdullah on Thursday chaired a meeting of the Working Committee of the party’s Kashmir Province. The meeting was attended by Party Vice President and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Senior Functionaries, and members of the Working Committee, and special invitees.

During the meeting, extensive deliberations were held on the prevailing political and administrative situation in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, the issues and challenges confronting the people, party affairs, organizational matters, and the future course of action.

Dr. Farooq warned that attempts were being made to create obstacles in the path of Jammu & Kashmir’s development and public welfare projects, but the National Conference would confront these challenges steadfastly as it had done in the past.

He urged the members of the Working Committee to maintain strong grassroots contact with the people and play an active role in further strengthening the party. He said that the National Conference had faced numerous challenges in the past and had always emerged successfully due to public support.

Dr. Farooq said that the opposition’s misleading statements, false propaganda, and political theatrics could not weaken the National Conference because the party enjoys the unwavering support of the people. He stated that the National Conference has always represented the sentiments, aspirations, and emotions of the people and would continue to prioritize public interest above all else.