Jammu, July 11: Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary on Friday robustly defended the National Conference’s invite to the Mirwaiz Umar Farooq for participation in its proposed protest at Jantar Mantar in the union capital on July 20, to seek early restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir – with a counter question to those objecting to it.
Choudhary asked if Mirwaiz was not a citizen of Jammu and Kashmir.
“How come – BJP was questioning it…Just go and check Mirwaiz’ pictures with its (BJP’s) leaders. As far as BJP is concerned, it has included even the surrendered militants in its fold in Kashmir. Why do you not question the BJP on this account? Is Mirwaiz not a legible voter-card, Aadhar card holder? Is he not a citizen of Jammu and Kashmir? His political ideology may be – altogether a different matter yet this (NC’s protest) is about statehood – an issue that resonates with us all. Therefore, we have invited all, including BJP. We hope that if BJP is really sympathetic to J&K’s cause and its people, it will join the NC protest on July 20 at Jantar Mantar,” Deputy Chief Minister pointed out, while responding to media queries on the issue.
Choudhary, accompanied by the NC provincial president Jammu rattan Lal Gupta, was interacting with the media after reviewing the arrangements at Hari Singh park – the venue of NC’s proposed rally, to be addressed by the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on July 12 to mobilise public support for the party’s July 20 Jantar Mantar rally in support of statehood.
Deputy Chief Minister dismissed the BJP’s objection regarding NC invite to the Mirwaiz, with another poser.
“Does BJP not talk to the Mirwaiz? The BJP’s objection is nothing but an attempt to play to the gallery,” he alleged.
With regard to his review visit, Choudhary said, “We came here at Hari Singh Park to take stock of arrangements as on July 12, the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah will address a massive rally of National Conference to remind the Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister of their promise to restore the statehood to J&K at the earliest. Eighteen months have passed but the promise has not been fulfilled. In the rally, CM will also explain the problems being faced by the elected government, in the absence of statehood and will mobilise public support for NC’s Jantar Mantar rally. On July 11, a similar big rally, coinciding with the Madre Meharban’s death anniversary, will be organised in Kashmir.”
He stated that more and more Jammuites should attend the NC rally on July 12 to dissipate the notion that only people in Kashmir were seeking statehood. “In fact, Jammu needed statehood desperately as it is suffering more in its absence than Kashmir on account of loss of jobs and land,” the Deputy Chief Minister said.
Responding to questions about yesterday’s alleged “security breach” during the National Conference function addressed by him, in Hiranagar of Kathua district, he reiterated his demand for action against the Police officials.
“Yesterday there were two scheduled party tours to Hiranagar in Kathua district and in Samba district to mobilise public support for NC’s July 20 Jantar Mantar protest to seek statehood restoration. I was there along with the NC provincial president Jammu Rattan Lal Gupta. My question is why the hall was not sanitised as the district administration and the Police were already intimated about my political party tour and public function,” he asked.
He alleged that the person, who protested, was planted by a political party.
“He is a BJP worker. You may check his profile on social media. The incident raises a question mark not just about the youth but also about the Police. This is purely a security lapse by the Police. Earlier also, there was a security lapse at Greater Kailash. I’m the Deputy Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir on a “tour-programme.” This breach (protest) happened with the knowledge of the concerned DySP and SHO. They (protesters) were deliberately sent here to disrupt my programme,” Choudhary reiterated his charge.
He was referring to a protest by an advocate, who briefly disrupted DyCM’s party (NC) function to register protest against, what he (protester) alleged, “the non-fulfillment of promise by the Chief Minister to announce National Law University (NLU) in Jammu as well.”
The Deputy Chief Minister asserted that if the youth had a genuine demand, he could take it up with him (DyCM) later.
“NC is not anti-Jammu as it is dubbed. The NC-government led by the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah saved the sagging economy of Jammu by restoring Darbar Move -a move taken by the BJP government. I led the movement for setting up Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences, Jammu (SKUAST-J) in the mid-nineties,” he recalled.
Describing the incident “as a big security lapse due to dereliction of duty by the concerned Police officials”, Choudhary reiterated, “I’ll request the DGP and LG Sahib to initiate action against the SHO Hiranagar and the DySP concerned as that youth tried to jump on the stage with an intention to attack me. Had my PSOs not been there, he (youth) would have succeeded.”
