Omar Abdullah Criticizes BJP Over Rising Militancy in Jammu

National Conference Vice President Omar Abdullah condemns the BJP-led Centre over increased militancy in Jammu, questioning accountability since 2014. Contending in Budgam and Ganderbal, he calls for the BJP to accept responsibility and apologize. This comes amid J&K's phased assembly elections, the first since Article 370's abrogation.

National Conference Vice President Omar Abdullah has taken the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Centre to task over escalating terror incidents in the Jammu region. Abdullah, contesting from Budgam and Ganderbal, has raised questions about who should be held accountable for the heightened militancy since 2014.

'The situation in Jammu, where our brave soldiers are increasingly targeted, is one that the BJP needs to address. They must explain why militancy has spread in Jammu since 2014 and why there has been a sharp increase over the past three years. This is a clear failure on their part, one that they should accept and apologize for,' said Abdullah during an interaction with reporters on Friday. He also countered BJP accusations that the militancy is the fault of the 'Gandhis,' 'Muftis,' and 'Abdullahs.'

'When they speak in J&K, they blame three families for the situation. Yet, outside J&K, they claim Pakistan is to blame. If we are responsible, why don't they engage with Pakistan? Their contradictory stance is evident.' Jammu and Kashmir is in the midst of a three-phase voting process for its 90-member assembly, with the final phase on October 1 and vote counting on October 8. The National Conference and Congress have formed a pre-poll alliance, adding complexity to the elections, which are being held for the first time since the abrogation of Article 370 nearly a decade ago.

(With inputs from agencies.)