Omar Abdullah hits back at Amit Shah for his dynastic politics jibe

Srinagar, Aug 26: Hitting back at BJP President Amit Shah for his dynastic politics jibe, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday termed it as "hypocrisy," saying the party should first "lecture" its friends in Maharashtra and Punjab.

"Please, let them (BJP) first lecture their own friends. They should give this lecture in Maharashtra, Punjab and in some other states as well. Then, if anything remains, they should say it to me. If they talk to me about it before lecturing their friends, then it would be nothing but hypocrisy," he told reporters.

Omar was here to lay the foundation stone for construction of a MLD Sewage Treatment Plant at posh Rajbagh locality in uptown Srinagar.

Addressing a public rally in Kathua in Jammu region, on his first visit to the state after becoming BJP chief last month, Amit Shah had yesterday criticised the dynastic politics prevalent in the state.

"BJP is fighting to make 'Congress-mukt bharat' (Congress-free India) and Jammu and Kashmir is a part of the country. So to make J&K Congress-free, you have to fight to make the state free from Abdullah and Mufti dynasties," he had said.

"In J&K, the Abdullah family is replaced by Mufti and vice versa. The government changes, but the development of the people and state remain at a standstill," he added.

Day after Shah attack, Omar says blame lies on Centre

A day after BJP president Amit Shah criticised him for ignoring people affected by Pakistani firing, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today said the blame lay on the Centre and not on state government.

"If no care has been taken, the Centre is to be blamed. Recently, five Central ministers visited the state -– they visited Kashmir, Ladakh and perhaps even Jammu city. If they did not visit the border, then who is to blame? I cannot drag them there," Omar told reporters.

Yesterday, Shah attacked Omar at a rally in Jammu region saying "I want to ask the Chief Minister have you yourself visited them (residents displaced by Pak firing) –- if not, I want to ask you do not you feel you have a responsibility towards them."

Earlier, Minister of State for Home Sajad Kichloo said the government was continuously monitoring the situation and the administration had been directed to be at the beck and call of people affected by the shelling.

Kichloo said he visited the affected areas extensively, interacted with the people, ascertained their difficulties and oversaw arrangements and help being provided to them by the state government.

He said the Chief Minister was continuously monitoring the situation and receiving minute-to-minute appraisal about it.

PTI