New Delhi: BJP yesterday criticised Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for his statement on "differential treatment" to Kashmir that fuelled alienation among its people, saying it is "unfortunate" and should not be made on the Independence Day.
"The use of words by Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on the occasion of Independence Day is unfortunate. He should not say such words. He should not play blame-game," said BJP spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain.
He said "to hide the short-comings of his government, he is using BJP's name. He can't absolve himself of his responsibilities by blaming BJP."
The BJP leader said it has become a fashion in the country that any government which is unable to do something blames BJP and if it does something, it credits itself.
Abdullah, in his Independence Day speech made in Srinagar yesterday, said "I am often asked why do people of Jammu and Kashmir feel different from the people of the rest of the country...We do not feel separate but are made to do so by the different attitude towards us. Today, I will explain it."
Omar quoted figures from the Union Home Ministry on the deaths in communal riots that took place last year and up to March this year which included 34 deaths in Uttar Pradesh and 13 deaths in Maharashtra during 2012.
"Were these incidents discussed in Parliament? Forget about leaders visiting these places, did they mention it on twitter"? he said in an apparent reference to BJP leaders Arun Jaitley and Sushma Swaraj.
