Mufti implementing RSS agenda in Kashmir: Omar Abdullah

Srinagar, June 13: The National Conference on Saturday accused Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Muhammad Sayeed of implementing the agenda of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in the state.

"When I was ruling the state, it had two centres - Srinagar and Jammu. But now the state government has only one centre that is Nagpur," former chief minister Omar Abdullah said referring to the RSS headquarters.

"Today all the strings are pulled from there (Nagpur)."

Abdullah led a large anti-government rally from Municipal Park, which is adjacent to the headquarters of ruling Peoples Democratic Party, to the business hub of Regal chowk here.

Protestors, which included former ministers and senior NC leaders, termed the the PDP and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) coalition government in the state as "anti-Muslim and anti-Article 370".

The Article 370 of the constitution provides special status to the state and its repeal is one of the core agendas of the BJP.

"This government has shown its true colours in just 100 days of its formation. Despite having political differences with the PDP, we had offered our unconditional support to it, so that the BJP's march could be stopped," said Abdullah, who is also the working president of the NC.

He said PDP patron Sayeed sought votes from people by promising to stop the BJP and providing relief to flood affected people.

"But alas! Both of his (Sayeed's) promises have proven to be a hoax. Mufti Sayeed formed the government with the support of the BJP and left flood victims high and dry," Abdullah said.

"Ask our traders," he said, referring to shopkeepers of the Regal chowk, which was badly hit by floods last year, "have they received any relief from the government. Whatever little they received was only from our government."

The former chief minister also criticised Prime Minsiter Narendra Modi for failing to provide Rs.44,000 crore flood package sought by his government.

"I was there when you (Modi) promised help and even offered support to Pakistan occupied Kashmir. Fortunately they (PoK) didn't heed, otherwise they too would have been on roads demanding relief like us," Abdullah said.

Abdullah said they would make sure that the state government provides relief to people and delivers on ground.

Visibly feeling irritated by police blockades to prevent the NC rally from moving ahead, Abdullah asked his supports to march towards Lal Chowk, which is 500 metres from the Regal chowk.

The enthusiastic NC supporters removed police blockades as Abdullah waived the party's red flag from historic clock tower, which has remained centre of flag waiving in separatist rallies.

IANS