Kulgam, Nov 19: In a fierce statement, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday lashed out at the stereotyping and blanket suspicion faced by Kashmiris across the country following the recent Delhi terror blast.
Addressing a gathering in south kashmiri’s Kulgam district, Omar said that despite only a handful of people being involved in the incident, a deliberate attempt was made to portray the entire population of J&K as suspects.
“A handful of people are responsible for what happened in Delhi. But an environment was created as if all of us were guilty — as if the whole community was involved,” Omar said, condemning the narrative that criminalizes an entire region.
“Today, driving a vehicle with a J&K registration in Delhi is considered a crime,” he said. “When I don’t have much security with me, even I hesitate to take my car out. Anyone can ask me to pull over, demand my identity, and question why I am there.”
He said, “The people of Jammu and Kashmir were promised an end to violence after 2019, yet the ground reality remains unchanged, with civilians still paying the ultimate price. “If it’s not exploding in Delhi, it’s exploding here. Innocent people are losing their lives,” he told reporters, emphasizing that the conflict has spanned more than three decades.
He questioned the responsibility and accountability of those managing security in the region.
The Chief Minister, who has been visiting families affected by the recent Nowgam blast, said the endless cycle of violence must stop.
“Yesterday I visited five homes, today I am going to two more. J&K has seen enough bloodshed in 30–35 years,” he added.
On the developmental front, Omar highlighted the progress under Mission Yuva, noting that nearly 30,000 DPRs have been approved and Rs 400 crore disbursed to young entrepreneurs in the last five months.
However, he flagged a significant gap between DPR approvals and bank sanctions. “The approval rate is good, but bank sanctions remain low. We will work to bridge this gap,” he said.
