TECH-SAVVY Abdullah scion is once again facing the twitter storm after pitching Statehood demand at the cost of, what his detractors say, special status of Jammu and Kashmir.
Omar Abdullah was the last politician along with his father and a party colleague who met PM Narendra Modi in New Delhi, hours before the abrogation of Article 370 last August.
After serving around 9-month-long detention, he was released earlier this year and had since then maintained a cryptic silence on the much-touted Gupkar Declaration — that vowed to safeguard J&K’s special status.
However, on July 26, 2020, barely ten days before the first anniversary of the abrogation of J&K’s special status, Omar broke his silence saying that he won’t contest polls till J&K remains a union territory.
His statement soon became a subject of scorn on twitter.
“Omar Abdullah apparently doesn’t want to contest as long as J and K is a UT. Is it Omar Abdullah alone, or the NC,” Imran Reza Ansari said.
Omar abdullah apparently doesn’t want to contest as long as j and k is a UT. Is it omar Abdullah alone or the NC. Basically same as Farroq sahib— statehood. 1/3
— Imran Reza Ansari (@imranrezaansari) July 26, 2020
As New Delhi has already made its mind to restore 4G and Statehood in JK, a twitter user wrote, Omar Abdullah playing awesomely as if center would restore them to please him. “Sir we know you have already struck a deal. If you are honest with us, why are you now silent on Art 370?”
As New Delhi has made its mind to restore 4G and Statehood, @OmarAbdullah playing awesomely as if center would restore them to please him. Sir we know you have already struck a deal. If you are honest with us, why are you now silent on Art 370?@MehboobaMufti @MirAijaz89
— Anam Malik (@rogunjosh) July 27, 2020
While some detailed the “secret deal” in their tweet, many made the former chief minister part of the trending #IHaveAJoke hashtag.
“I have a joke on statehood but the real joke is Omar Abdullah,” a twitter wrote.
I have a joke on statehood but the real joke is Omar abdullah
— Aaqib Mir (@Aaqib_mir8) July 27, 2020
Terming his decision as the “grapes are sour” case, a user wrote: “Now when Omar Abdullah and his dynasty politics lost relevance and takers in #Kashmir, he came up with another political card.”
GRAPES ARE SOUR!
Now when #omarabdullah & his dynasty politics lost relevance & takers in #Kashmir, he came up with another political card that “he won’t Contest Assembly Polls Till Statehood Restored”
#Kashmir #Article370 pic.twitter.com/p2Ul2Fl3HL
— Fatima Dar (@FatimaDar_jk) July 27, 2020
But amid puns and punches, the biggest revelation was made by former finance minister of J&K, Tariq Hameed Karra.
“The sudden outbursts and parotting by some political leaders from J&K for restoration of Statehood is a precursor to the already taken decision by chosen few in GOI for which the timeline fixed is 15th of August 2020 for initiating the process for restoration of Statehood and 5th August for restoring 4G,” Karra wrote on his twitter handle. “It is actually a rat race for taking the credit.”
1/2
A highly connected friend of mine told me that “The sudden outbursts and parotting by some political leaders from J&K for restoration of Statehood is a precursor to the already taken decision by chosen few in GOI for which the timeline fixed is …..2/2— Tariq Hameed Karra (@tariqkarra) July 27, 2020
By raising the Statehood pitch, a twitter user said, Omar has made it very clear that he will not speak against abrogation of special status of J&K now.
“So NC surrendered completely,” he said.
Mesage is very clear @OmarAbdullah will not contest elections in UT as he demanded statehood for J&K. That means he will not speak against abrogation of special status of J&K So NC surrendered completely. All eyes on @MehboobaMufti @sajadlone & @shahfaesal . #Kashmir
— Guftar Ahmed (گفتار احمد) (@GuftarAhmedCh) July 26, 2020
The sudden decision has already made some commentators believe that Omar has only returned to his roots — where from he started his political career.
“Omar Abdullah’s Indian Express piece puts him and Ram Madhav on same page,” columnist Javid Iqbal wrote.
@OmarAbdullah Indian Express piece puts him & @rammadhavbjp on same page vis-a-vis restoration of statehood to J&K, rest is left to how the political winds blow in future
— Javid Iqbal (@IqbalJavid46) July 27, 2020
While deconstructing Omar’s demand, the netizens linked his decision with BJP’s favour.
“Why Omar Abdullah is helping BJP? Because he moved out of Political detention with the help of BJP,” wrote a twitter user.
Ex-CM of J&K Omar Abdullah has recently said that he won’t contest Assembly Elections till J&K remains a union territory.
Why Omar Abdullah is helping BJP?
Because he moved out of Political detention with the help of BJP.Why Mehbooba Mufti is still in Political Detention??
— Zoya (@RangDeTiranga) July 26, 2020
Calling him a “power hungry” person, a twitter user said: “Omar Abdullah’s article in Indian Express was just a game to make ground for election. He knew (in advance) about government of India’s decision on restoration of 4G and statehood. By letting topic of article 370 to SC, he gave up on that and proved he is just a power hungry person.”
@OmarAbdullah article in Indian express was just a game to mk ground for election. He knew (in advance ) about #goi decision on restoration of #4G and statehood. By letting topic of article #370 to SC, he gave up on that and proved he is just a power hungry person.
— Younis Ahmad Dar (@dar_younis_) July 27, 2020
Before facing a fresh twitter storm, Omar Abdullah wrote an article in Indian Express in which he said, “J&K participated in democratic processes, shared in nation’s development but the promise made with it wasn’t kept. Removing 370 may have been the popular thing to do, but going back on a nation’s sovereign commitments was not the right thing to do.”
My piece: “J&K participated in democratic processes,shared in nation’s development but the promise made with it wasn’t kept.Removing 370 may have been the popular thing to do,but going back on a nation’s sovereign commitments was not the right thing to do” https://t.co/VISBMOAgSA
— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) July 27, 2020
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