Srinagar, Omar Abdullah, the vice president of the National Conference (NC), has openly criticized the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) for what he describes as the destruction and betrayal of Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) stemming from the events of August 5, 2019.

According to Kashmir Media Service, during a gathering of NC workers at the party’s headquarters in Srinagar, Abdullah reflected on the consequences of the BJP’s actions on that significant day, accusing the party of dishonoring and robbing the region, causing irreversible harm, and propagating false promises to its people. He challenged the central government’s claims of development and progress in the region, questioning the initiation of any significant new projects post-2019 and pointing out the longstanding vibrancy of tourism in Kashmir contrary to government assertions.

Abdullah emphasized that the National Conference faces persecution for its refusal to endorse the decisions made on August 5, 2019, reiterating the party’s commitment to fighting for the rights of the people of IIOJK. He urged Kashmiri voters to consider the implications of those actions when casting their votes, positioning the electoral decision as a critical referendum on the BJP’s policies and their impact on the region.