Srinagar, National Conference Vice President Omar Abdullah voiced deep concerns over the deteriorating political and economic conditions in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), attributing the escalating crisis to the policies of India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
According to Kashmir Media Service, during public gatherings in Sopore and Bahrampora, Abdullah criticized the BJP for manipulating electoral processes and undermining democratic institutions, a situation he felt compelled to counter by deciding to contest the elections himself. He highlighted the negative impacts of the BJP’s land and eviction policies which he said targeted the region’s most vulnerable populations. Abdullah also pointed out the bureaucratic obstacles and discriminatory practices faced by Kashmiri youth, underscoring a systemic pattern of suppression since the controversial abrogation of Article 370 on August 5, 2019.