Intolerance a blot; BJP-PDP sidelining core issues in JK: Omar

Omar Abdullah alleged that PDP-BJP coalition's policy of putting core political issues on the back burner did not auger well for the prospects of peace in J&K.

Jammu: Growing "intolerance" in the country and the incidents in Udhampur and Dadri are blots on the social fabric of the country and will continue to hauntthe nation's collective conscience for years to come, former chief minister Omar Abdullah said on Monday.

Slamming the state government, the National Conference's working president said several core issues have been sidelined by PDP post its alliance with BJP and this might lead to feeling of further alienation among people in the state.

"People are concerned over the growing sense of communal polarisation and intolerance in the country. Incidents like those witnessed in Uttar Pradesh's Dadri and Udhampur here are blots on the social fabric of our country and will continue to haunt the nation's collective conscience for years to come," the NC leader said during a rally. He addressed two public meetings at Khari and Banihal areas of Ramban district.

Referring to the death of a truck conductor in a petrol bomb attack last month, he said that the murderous attack on the trucker in Udhampur by a frenzied, communal mob highlights the gravity of the situation the state is confronted with.

Criticising the state government, Omar alleged that the PDP-BJP coalition's policy of putting core political issues on the back burner did not auger well for the prospects of peace and stability within J&K as well as the South Asian region.

He claimed that the spate in incidents of intolerance and communal confrontation in the country has created a sense of despondency and restlessness that could have far-reaching, adverse implications for the next generation.

"PDP has acted as a 'political courier' that carried the alien ideology of intolerance and communal polarisation into J and K at the behest of those who have always harboured a dream to fragment and polarise the state," he said.

"Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed a prolonged period of political unrest and turmoil. A state like ours cannot be starved of political engagement and initiatives to bring the disgruntled and disillusioned elements into the fold of our democratic processes and systems," he said.

Omar said the "continued failure" of PDP-BJP to articulate the need for political engagement with internal and external stakeholders is a threat to the fragile peace in J&K that has been earned after years of political persistence.

"A lot of core political issues have been sidelined by the PDP post its alliance with the BJP and this risks further alienation and isolation in the state," he claimed.