Omar Abdullah Hits Back At Ram Madhav's 'Militant's Support' Remark: 'He Is Suggesting They Hold Power...'

Omar Abdullah challenged Ram Madhav to prove the accusations and added that he believed that the militants had no more influence after the government's actions in Jammu and Kashmir.

Omar Abdullah has filed nomination for the assembly polls from two seats -- Ganderbal and Budgam.

Source : PTI

National Conference leader and former Jammu and Kashmir Omar Abdullah on Thursday hit out at Ram Madhav's statement saying that the BJP leader should prove that NC has links with militants or former militants.

Omar Abdullah challenged the BJP national general secretary to prove the accusations and added that he believed that the militants had no more influence after the government's actions in Jammu and Kashmir.

"I’m sure he (Ram Madhav) has access to all the intelligence reports. Show us where we are taking support from militants and ex-militants. I was under the impression that what Delhi (government) did, they (militants) were rendered neutral and they had no more say," Omar Abdullah said. 

"Ram Madhav is suggesting that these people (militants) hold power over what voters will decide which they would suggest whatever they’ve done after 2019 is for nothing," Omar Abdullah said referring to the Abrogation of Article 35A and 370 in August 2019.

The NC leader's rebuttal came after Ram Madhav on Wednesday accused the National Conference and the People's Democratic Party of taking support from ex-militants for the assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir.

Madhav alleged that the two parties want to take the Union territory back to its trouble-filled days. Referring to the Abdullahs and Muftis, he further said the two families need to be shown the door.

"I have information that ex-militants are openly campaigning for the candidates of the NC and PDP. The people will have to defeat the parties who want to take J-K back to its bad days and support new leadership which wants peace and progress," Madhav had told reporters.

Meanwhile, Omar Abdullah took a jibe at the BJP saying, "Even that we know who the independents are that are being fielded in this election, and who will benefit from their fighting, I think it is a bit rich of Ram Madhav to say that NC is taking benefit from ex-militants. Show us where?"

The NC leader also responded to questions about contesting from two different seats.

"It's not a big deal. My colleagues wanted to show that the NC is not fighting this election from a weak position, but a strong one. My contesting from two seats is not a sign of weakness, but strength, it is the proof of the NC's strength," he said.

Abdullah has filed nomination for the assembly polls from two seats -- Ganderbal and Budgam.

The NC has an alliance with the Congress for the three-phase assembly polls. Abdullah said the ground situation is in favour of his party and expressed hope the results of the election would prove that.