SRINAGAR: The Awami Itihaad Party (AIP) on Thursday criticised National Conference (NC) Vice President Omar Abdullah’s decision to launch a door-to-door signature campaign seeking the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood.
AIP Chief Spokesperson Inam Un Nabi described the initiative as a “confession of political irrelevance and failure,” alleging that the NC leadership had failed to safeguard public aspirations on the issues of Article 370 and statehood.
“Omar Abdullah had a golden opportunity when his party held a full mandate to defend the rights of Kashmiris. Instead of pursuing these goals, the NC surrendered before the BJP’s agenda. This campaign is nothing more than an attempt to divert attention from that betrayal,” he said in a statement.
Inam further argued that the NC’s silence in the aftermath of the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019 reflected misplaced priorities. He claimed that Abdullah should have mobilised legislators, pursued legal and constitutional avenues, and built a national consensus, rather than resorting to petitions.
Terming the campaign “political theatre,” Inam said it resembled an apology rather than a movement. “If the NC could not defend the trust placed in it in the Assembly and in Delhi, it should avoid subjecting people to such emotional exercises,” he added.
The AIP reiterated that it rejects such campaigns, maintaining that its focus remains on the restoration of statehood and the protection of identity and land rights through peaceful and democratic means.
Earlier, PDP’s Waheed Parra and PC Leader Sajad lone also criticised CM’s Statehood move while calling it a political gimmick. -(KL)
