Omar challenges Modi to debate on Article 370 ‘anytime,anywhere’

“I am surprised that those who know nothing about J&K are commenting on J&K. Those who have not read Article 370 are talking about it. Article 370 does not talk about property rights nor the residency laws. Article 370 is a provision that connects this state to the rest of the country,” he said,referring to the points raised by Modi during his rally at Jammu on December 1.

“I am more surprised by how little knowledge those who are occupying high positions,and dream of occupying higher position,have about the people of Jammu and Kashmir. One such leader made a speech in Jammu recently and claimed that injustice is being done to Gujjars in the state,” Omar said.

He further said Modi lacked basic knowledge of the Shia community and criticised him for not raising the issue of Kashmiri Pandits during his Jammu visit.

“Ours is perhaps the only state which has given Scheduled Tribe status to the community. Modi sahib,if you had to raise this issue,you should have done it in Rajasthan where Gujjars are sacrificing their lives for this status,” he added.

Omar said his National Conference has been maintaining that Kashmir was incomplete without the Pandits and it was imperative that they should return to the Valley. “It was the slogan of Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah ‘Sher-e-Kashmir ka kaya irshad,Hindu,Muslim,Sikh Itehaad’. We don’t divide people,we don’t pit people against each other,” he said.