Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah dismissed the characterization of the National Conference as a 'Muslim Party,' highlighting that his party appointed a Hindu Deputy Chief Minister from Jammu.
Abdullah further refuted the allegations that NC is a party of Kashmir and will only work for the Kashmiris, stating that his government will serve all the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
Addressing the party workers in Jammu, first time since becoming the CM, Omar Abdullah said, "We even made the Deputy CM from the same party as the CM. In the last elections, everyone said that the National Conference was a party of Muslims, that it was an organization for Kashmiris, and that Jammu would have no place. But we made a Deputy CM who is from Jammu and is Hindu. Now what will those people say?"
"As soon as the election results came out, some of our well-wishers started spreading the rumour that Jammu will be ignored now because they did not elect NC or Congress candidates. From day one, I had said that this government would be for everyone. If we serve, we will serve all the people of Jammu and Kashmir," Omar added.
Notably, in the recent Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections, the NC-Congress alliance won the assembly polls in J-K, held after a gap of 10 years, and the first since the abrogation of Article 370. JKNC won 42 seats while the Congress managed to win six.
Bharatiya Janata Party, bagged 29 seats, all in the Jammu region. The People's Democratic Party won three seats and one each by the People's Conference, CPI-M and AAP. Seven seats were also won by the Independents.
Omar Abdullah was sworn in as the first Chief Minister of the Union Territory of J-K. Surinder Kumar Choudhary, who won from the Nowshera assembly seat was sworn in as his deputy. The J-K Chief Minister further said that in the last 8-10 years, there wasn't just an attempt to weaken this party but to "completely destroy" it.
"Every possible method was used against us. Our comrades were threatened, intimidated, and some were lured, but the leaders of the party remained steadfast and did not let these conspiracies succeed. Everyone has proven that this organization does not belong to the leaders of the National Conference, but to the party workers," he said.