Omar Abdullah Tells Pakistan to Stay Out of Jammu and Kashmir Elections
Budgam (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], September 19: Following remarks by Pakistani Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Article 370, National Conference Vice President Omar Abdullah stated that Pakistan should manage its own affairs and not interfere in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly polls.
“What does Pakistan have to do with us? We are not even a part of Pakistan, let them take care of their country. I don’t think they should interfere in our elections or comment on our elections. They should save their democracy, we are participating in ours,” Omar Abdullah told reporters.
Earlier, National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah said, “I don’t know what Pakistan says. I am not a Pakistani; I am an Indian citizen.”
The remarks from the National Conference leaders came after Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif’s statement in an interview where he said that Pakistan and the NC-Congress alliance were on the same page regarding the restoration of Article 370.
Speaking on Geo News to senior journalist Hamid Mir in a show called Capital Talk, Khawaja Asif was asked whether Pakistan and the National Conference-Congress alliance are on the same page regarding the restoration of Article 370 and 35A in Jammu and Kashmir. Asif replied, “Absolutely. Even our demand is also the same…”
The Pakistan Minister also claimed that Article 370 could return should the NC-Congress alliance come to power in Jammu and Kashmir. “I think it is possible. Currently, the National Conference and Congress have very big importance over there. The population of the valley has been motivated a lot on this issue and I believe, there is a chance that the Conference (National Conference) will come to power. They have made this an election issue that the status of Jammu and Kashmir should be restored,” Asif told Geo News.
Doubts Revealed
Omar Abdullah -: Omar Abdullah is a politician in India. He is the Vice President of the National Conference, a political party in Jammu and Kashmir.
National Conference -: The National Conference is a political party in Jammu and Kashmir, a region in India. They work to represent the people of that area.
Pakistani Defence Minister -: The Pakistani Defence Minister is a person in Pakistan’s government who is in charge of the country’s defense and military matters. Khawaja Asif is the current Defence Minister.
Article 370 -: Article 370 was a part of the Indian Constitution that gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir. It was removed in 2019, which changed the way the region is governed.
Jammu and Kashmir -: Jammu and Kashmir is a region in northern India. It has its own unique culture and history.
Farooq Abdullah -: Farooq Abdullah is another leader of the National Conference party. He is also a well-known politician in Jammu and Kashmir.
NC-Congress alliance -: The NC-Congress alliance is a partnership between the National Conference and the Congress party, another major political party in India. They sometimes work together in elections.
