Interview/ Omar Abdullah, chairperson, National Conference
Q/ You received an impressive mandate.
A/ I am pleasantly surprised. We were not expecting such a stupendous response from the people. We were worried about vote division with a large number of independents and smaller parties propped up in this election. But all credit goes to the wisdom of the voters, who saw through this and defeated it.
Q/ Do you think the mandate your party received is a pushback from the people against the BJP’s decision to abrogate Article 370?
A/ It is a rejection of what was done to Jammu and Kashmir on August 5, 2019. And I am also including all the seats outside the BJP’s kitty―whether bagged by independents, the People’s Conference, the Peoples Democratic Party, or the alliance. This is a rejection of what the BJP did.
Q/ Were you nervous about the results of your two constituencies?
A/ Obviously. But my contesting from two seats had nothing to do with my nervousness. I was nervous about the elections as a whole, particularly in light of the Baramulla parliamentary results, which were bound to have an impact.
Q/ What about the performance of your alliance partner? Do you feel the Congress let you down?
A/ I am not going to get into that. They could have done better, but I’m grateful for every single seat we won and that we crossed the halfway mark. That was more important.
Q/ Will you be following through on your commitment to pass a resolution in the assembly for the restoration of statehood and against the Article 370 move by the BJP?
A/ The resolution should come from the cabinet. Why wait for the assembly?
The assembly can debate and discuss other things, but the cabinet should be clear on the restoration of statehood.
Q/ Given the mandate the National Conference has secured, how do you intend to address regional aspirations in the face of a not-so-friendly government at the Centre?
A/ These are tricky waters to navigate, no doubt. We will see how things unfold. Unfortunately, this is a new experience for us, as we’re not used to governing as a Union territory.
Q/ Do you feel redeemed by your assembly seat victories after the Lok Sabha election loss?
A/ Every election you win is a good election and every election you lose is an opportunity to learn. Let’s just say the Baramulla Lok Sabha seat was a learning experience that helped in planning for the assembly elections.
Q/ Observers say you have a mandate from the people, but the assembly and government are hamstrung by limited powers.
A/ In the initial phase, we will do whatever we can. But I don’t believe we will remain a Union territory. The prime minister is on record committing statehood to Jammu and Kashmir. The BJP has said it is a three-step process: delimitation, elections and statehood. Two steps have been completed; now it’s time for the third. The prime minister has made a public commitment to restoring statehood, and we hope to see that commitment fulfilled.
Q/ The elections have revealed a regional divide between Jammu and the valley. How do you intend to carry Jammu along?
A/ This government can’t be just for the people who voted for it. It has to be for the people of Jammu and Kashmir. If it only serves those who voted for us, then what about the 70 per cent of Srinagar who didn’t vote at all? People exercised their democratic choice in Jammu, and we respect that.
Also Read
- Jammu-Kashmir and Haryana assembly election results: Dear politicians, hear the people's voice
- J&K: Abdullahs return to power after 16 years, but Omar will have to walk the tightrope
- Decoding Haryana and Jammu-Kashmir assembly election results
- How BJP beat anti-incumbency in Haryana
- How BJP is working to consolidate its future after Lok Sabha debacle
- Haryana and J&K results come as a reality check for Congress
Q/ You have made some positive overtures to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. What are your expectations from him now?
A/ I’m very clear: in terms of party politics, the NC and the BJP will continue to oppose each other. There is no common ground between our two parties. But I believe we should be able to draw a line between political opposition and governmental cooperation. I hope that, in the spirit of federalism, the governments of Jammu and Kashmir and India will establish a healthy relationship.
Q/ Do you think the mandate you have received disproves the narrative of dynastic politics raised by your opponents?
A/ That narrative should now be buried for good. People voted knowing full well who I am and the family I belong to. If they still gave the NC the majority, then I don’t think this “dynasty” thing is of any interest to them any more. Politicians from political families lost in this election, and some won.
Q/ What role do you envision for your father, Farooq Abdullah?
A/ He is the brain of the party, guiding us. Inshallah, once the assembly is in place and we hold elections for the Rajya Sabha, I would very much like to see Dr Sahab go to the Rajya Sabha and fight for the interests of Jammu and Kashmir.
Scan to watch the interview