In an exclusive interview with THE WEEK, Omar spoke about a range of issues, including the troubles within the INDIA bloc and the likelihood of a tie-up with the BJP after the assembly elections. Excerpts:
Q/What is your opinion about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s view that J&K has suffered from parivarvad (dynastic rule)?
A/The BJP has a problem with only those parivars that are opposed to it. If you are part of the BJP or the NDA, then parivarvad is not a problem. People wanted the prime minister to talk about the restoration of democracy and of statehood and other issues that concern them. They wanted to hear what was being done to improve the electricity situation after the dismal power supply in winter. The daily wagers wanted to hear about their regularisation, the youth wanted to hear about job prospects and Kashmiri migrants wanted to know about the government’s plans for them to be able to come back. On all these important points, the prime minister was strangely silent.
Q/Why are you so dismissive of the BJP’s claim about investments in J&K post the abrogation of Article 370?
A/Where is the investment? Tourism, agriculture, horticulture and handicraft are key sectors in Kashmir. Show anything new, like a new hotel? The only visible project is a mall under construction in Pulwama. If the removal of Article 370 was solely for building a mall, locals could have done that by themselves.
Q/How about the BJP’s claim of peace in Kashmir?
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