Kashmir Impulse Desk
Jammu, Aug 7
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday accused the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) of trying to regain political credibility through what he described as a coordinated effort involving central agencies.
Abdullah was responding to questions about PDP president Mehbooba Mufti’s criticism of an FIR registered against her daughter Iltija Mufti following a protest in Srinagar on Aug. 5.
“Don’t ask for my comments on the fixed match,” Abdullah told reporters on the sidelines of official functions in Jammu.
He alleged that the PDP’s political standing had weakened following remarks by Mehbooba Mufti at a protest in New Delhi and said central agencies were being used to help revive the party’s image.
Abdullah also criticised the circumstances surrounding the case against Iltija Mufti, calling it an attempt to divert public attention from the controversy surrounding the PDP president’s earlier remarks.
The chief minister also rejected Pakistan’s criticism of developments in Jammu and Kashmir, saying Islamabad should focus on what he described as human rights violations in Pakistan-administered Kashmir rather than intervening in India’s internal affairs.
“Whatever we have to take back from the Centre, we will get it on our own,” Abdullah said, referring to differences between his government and the central government over Jammu and Kashmir.
On unemployment, Abdullah said government recruitment alone could not address the problem and said his administration was promoting entrepreneurship and self-reliance among young people.
He also said opposition parties had a responsibility to hold the government accountable, while political differences should not come at the expense of public welfare.
