Ghulam Nabi Azad Mocks Omar Abdullah’s ‘Tourist’ Label During Lok Sabha Elections Campaign

In the Udhampur-Kathua parliamentary constituency, Congress’s Lal Singh is competing against Union minister and BJP candidate Jitendra Singh, alongside DPAP’s G M Saroori and 10 other contenders. The constituency is scheduled for the first phase of the Lok Sabha election on April 19. During a speech, Mr Azad took a dig at the National Conference vice president, Omar Abdullah, criticizing his visits to the region and accusing him of being a “political tourist” who remained absent during times of hardship. Mr Azad also questioned the commitment of political parties to addressing issues such as land eviction and the abolition of Article 370, accusing the NC of supporting the BJP’s agenda for its own interests.

Mr Azad further criticized Omar Abdullah and his associates for living luxuriously despite restrictions such as the Public Safety Act, contrasting his own dedication to addressing the suffering of the people. He also questioned the stance of the Congress party on Article 370, suggesting that rather than confronting the BJP, the party seemed to focus on targeting his own party. In conclusion, Mr Azad expressed his support for Article 370 and 35A, as well as the restoration of statehood for Jammu and Kashmir, while raising concerns about the Congress’ silence on the matter.