National Conference vice-president Omar Abdullah Tuesday welcomed the Election Commission’s order barring four prominent politicians from electioneering for two to three days for their “provocative” or “snide” remarks.
The former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister, however, wantedthe poll panel to take harsher measures against the leaders making hatespeeches or sexiest remarks during campaigning.
“I think the recent steps taken by the Election Commission,while (being) welcome, need to be stronger,” he said.
“Stopping somebody from campaigning for a day or two orthree days is not exactly something that will deter these people because a lotof them are past masters in this sort of the use of language,” he toldreporters on the sidelines of campaigning for his father and NationalConference president Farooq Abdullah in Budgam district.
The NC leader said there should be no place for hate speechesor sexiest remarks in electoral discourse and even otherwise.
“One hopes the Election Commission will take very firmactions against any sexiest remark or hate speech injected into campaigns,”Omar added.
In reply to a question, he also appealed to the governor’sadministration to cancel the ban on civilian traffic on state highways for twodays a week, saying it did not benefit the security forces despiteinconveniencing common people.
“The surprising thing is that no force, be it police,paramilitary or army, made this demand. The Army has said they don’t need thisban and they will not even follow it. They are going to ply their vehicles allseven days a week. For God’s sake, tell me what is the purpose of closing thehighways for two days? Security forces have not benefitted from it but commonpeople have had to suffer,” he said.
He said some people have unnecessarily made the highway bana prestige issue.
“I will again appeal to the governor’s administration,please don’t make it an ego issue. Please cancel this order and allow people touse the highways,” he added.
Meanwhile, Omar claimed that the governor’s administrationhas made banning of national highway a point of prestige, which hasinconvenienced the people rather than proving helpful to the security forces,according to a NC statement issued here.
Addressing a public meet at Sholipora, Budgam, Omar said “wesee non-civilian traffic plying on road without any hassles, therefore thisscheme of banning civilian traffic on two days is unreasonable and devoid oflogic”.
“In fact, the army and police have distanced themselves fromhaving such an arrangement. I therefore urge the governor to roll back theorder immediately,” the statement said.
Expressing concern over the “decline of civilised politicaldiscourse”, Omar said “we are witnessing a steep fall in the level of civilityin the political discourse during the ongoing election campaign”.
“There should be no place for any hate speech or personalattacks. I hope election commission takes rigorous action against such peopleas surpass the ambit of civility and decency,” the statement said.
“It is the prime duty of election commission to ensure thatmodel code of conduct is thoroughly adhered to. They should take tough measuresin this direction to ensure the usage of illicit money in the elections isstopped,” Omar said. “We have political outfits and people who are blatantlyindulging in intimidation and thrashing of their political adversaries. We havecome across incidents wherein our political workers were thrashed andintimidated post and pre-polling a few days ago. These political outfits whichcame forth holding ‘lotus’ and ‘apple’ in their hands have erected theiredifices on the plinth of money and falsehood”.
“Election commission should take cognisance of theirerroneous activities and act accordingly. People should remain vigilant oftheir machinations and shenanigans,” the statement said.
Lashing out at the PDP-BJP coalition government, Omar,according to the statement, said: “People remember how mosques were closedduring their reign, how central laws were implemented in our state, howinnocents were intimidated by worst possible means. They want us to forget allthat but our memory is not weak. What good was achieved in my government wasput into an abyss by the PDP-BJP government. What happened to Rs 80000 crorepackage? Where did it go? We seekaccountability”.
While reminding PDP-PC combine on their promises of holdingparleys with Hurriyat and Pakistan and giving jobs to youth, Omar said they hadpromised to remove AFSPA, ensure minimal presence of army in the streets andmuch more.
“Nothing of that sort happened. They failed miserably incarrying forward the good will achieved till 2014. On the contrary the combineplunged the state into chaos and turmoil. It is up to people now to make amendsand show them their right place by using the vote wisely,” the statement said.
Underscoring the importance of land reforms, Omar said thatthe revolutionary step would not have been possible without Articles 370 and35A in place, the statement read.
“The famous land to tiller reforms and the otherpeople-friendly reforms undertaken by Sher-e-Kashmir Sheikh Muhammad Abdullahare one of its kind, nowhere else in the sub-continent were such exemplarysteps taken which empowered majority here. The trajectory of the land reformschanged the destiny of our ill-fated people who have been marred by years ofinjustice and repression. Moreover our kids would not have been the solebeneficiaries of scholarship schemes provided by the state if Articles 370 and35A were not in place. As such we have to make it a point to strengthen NCcandidates and trounce the machinations of those who are hell bent to destroyour identity and special status,” the statement read.
He said if the party is voted to power, development needs offar-flung areas will be fulfilled on priority basis.
“We will invest on human development, community developmentand basic infrastructure. Our idea of development is inclusive, devoid ofregional and other prejudices,” he said.
“Appreciating the persona of former minister Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi, Omar said he is a sincere politician who believes in working for people without any fanfare or slogan mongering. In the ensuing parliaments elections we have to strengthen the hands of Dr sahab (Dr Farooq Abdullah) and afterwards in Assembly elections, you have to ensure a thumping victory for Aga sahib (Aga Syed Ruhulla). Once in power both of them will leave no stone unturned to realize the anticipated development goals in Budgam constituency, particularly in its far-flung areas,” the statement said. (with PTI)