EP-212 | J&K Polls, Article 370, Alliance with Congress & Rift with PDP Feat. Omar Abdullah

Omar Abdullah, an Indian politician and former Chief Minister of Jammu & Kashmir, has led the Jammu & Kashmir National Conference since 2009. He was the last Leader of the Opposition in the Jammu & Kashmir Legislative Assembly before its dissolution in 2018. He has served twice as an MP for Srinagar and was briefly a Union Minister of State for External Affairs in Atal Bihari Vajpayee's government, resigning in 2002 to focus on party matters. Omar was detained under the Public Safety Act in February 2020, with the order revoked in March of the same year.

In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Omar Abdullah discusses his decision to contest two seats in the upcoming J&K Assembly elections. He also talks about his party's alliance with Congress and explains why the Gupkar Alliance with the PDP failed. He claims that the current J&K Legislative Council is compromised, though he believes it will be strengthened.

The former J&K CM criticizes the abrogation of Article 370 and calls Kashmir's domicile laws the weakest in India. He also accuses the BJP of failing to prevent terror attacks in the South of Pir Panjal. Additionally, Omar shares his views on Afzal Guru's execution, opposing capital punishment. He also emphasizes his party's commitment to bringing Pandits back to the valley.

(0:00) Coming Up

(1:27) Introduction

(2:14) Omar Contesting in Two Seats

(7:55) J&K Assembly: Empowered or Compromised?

(10:00) 'Independent' Candidates in Kashmir

(11:25) Where Does The BJP Stand?

(13:15) Should India Normalize Relations with Pak?

(15:15) Separatism in 'Naya Kashmir'

(20:31) Congress-NC Alliance

(24:50) The Battle For Jammu

(26:48) Kashmir's Domicile Laws

(34:00) Will Pandits Go Back To Kashmir?

(35:22) The IC-814 Saga

(37:40) Afzal Guru's Execution

(39:50) Terror Attacks in Jammu

(44:30) J&K Floods 2014

(46:00) Will NC 'Undo' Article 370?

(49:00) NC-PDP Alliance Split

(53:55) Omar Abdullah's Detention

(57:380 Lunch With the Gandhis

(1:01:00) US Making Inroads in Kashmir?

(1:03:16) Farooq Abdullah's Role Within NC