Only NC can bridge gap between two regions in J

Jammu, Sep 29 (UNI) In the wake of Assembly elections scheduled to be held by the end of this year, the National Conference (NC) party president Omar Abdullah today said his party is the only way out to bridge gap between two regions of Jammu and Kashmir.

''Only NC can bridge the gap between Jammu and the Kashmir, which was created during two-month long turmoil erupted over Amarnath land row,'' Mr Abdullah said, while addressing a gathering after a long interval of almost three months at party headquarters here.

''After 1947, it was another recall of turmoil as friends turned into foes, voices of regionalism and separatism became stronger and even there were apprehensions that the state may disintegrate'' Mr Abdullah said asserting, ''NC cadre on all fronts stood firm and tried to unite the people at this critical juncture.'' However, the NC president said it would take time to heal the wounds thus it becomes obligatory to his party activists to act as a matrix to fill the gap.

After PDP rejected the peace deal offered by the Centre on land issue, the NC played the significant role to dilute the strains between two regions by accepting the deal, which was later inked on August 31 between the government and the Sangharsh Samiti, Mr Abdullah asserted.

Criticising the Congress, the junior Abdullah said, ''none of the Congress leaders talked of integrity despite land issue was their gift to state.'' Mr Abdullah added that BJP was the party, which once stated that J &K is an integral part of India and talked of 'aar yaa paar ki ladai for Kashmir' but suddenly they did economic blockade to the Kashmir.

However, on elections, he said it is the Election Commission of India (ECI), which has to announce the polls and the NC only can apprise about the present situation in Jammu and Kashmir.

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