Spurt in Militancy Due To Provocative Remarks By Mins, Says Omar

The former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister asked the Union Minister to “focus on their work”.

Former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir Omar Abdullah. (Photo: Reuters)

“Provocative statements” by the Union Ministers of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government are to be blamed for the spurt in militancy in Jammu and Kashmir, according to former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.

We are bearing the brunt of statements made after the surgical strikes. If our rulers would have kept quiet after the strikes, and if they would have spoken with their work rather than their mouth, perhaps the conditions would not have been such.

Omar Abdullah, For Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir

Ministers’ Remarks are Bound to Cause a Reaction, Says Abdullah

The National Conference working president said the statements by Union Ministers that Pakistan would not even dare to look towards India after the surgical strikes and that demonetisation had ended terror, were proving to be wrong now.

“When Defence Minister says that if Pakistan looks at us, we will gouge their eyes out and hand them those, obviously, there would be a reaction somewhere,” he said.

Abdullah’s remarks come in the wake of Nagrota terror attack where seven Army personnel were killed on 29 November.

He appealed to the ministers to “pay more attention” on their work and leave the talking to the Opposition.

It is the Opposition’s job to talk and the government’s job to work. Here, it is the opposite, the government is talking more and we are working. There should be a role reversal

The controversial statement drew flak from many including BJP leaders who called it “bizarre” and "insensitive”.

(With inputs from PTI)