Kolkata, July 27 : Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday termed the ongoing unrest in Kashmir as one of the biggest failures of the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre, saying the situation in the Valley has worsened since 2014.
"One of the biggest failures of BJP has been Jammu and Kashmir. The security situation in that state has been deteriorating since 2014," said Abdullah, who met Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee at the state secretariat.
"The reality is that the BJP government at the Centre was unable to conduct even a parliamentary by-election for a seat vacated by Mehbooba Mufti," he said.
He said he welcomed the statement of Imran Khan, leader of the largest party PTI in Pakistan polls, that he will take two steps forward if India took one step to end the Kashmir 'dispute.' But he said one must wait to see how the Pakistan leader acts after he is formally elected to head the civilian government.
"We have to wait for him to be sworn in. Whatever he said on Thursday about taking two steps forward for every one step that India takes, it sounds good but a lot will depend on the action he is willing to take," he added.
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Dhanbad (Jharkhand) (PTI): At least four workers died after being buried under coal slurry in Jharkhand's Dhanbad district on Saturday, a police official said.
The incident took place at Moonidih coal washery in the command area of Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL).
"Bodies of all four workers were dug out of debris during a rescue operation," Putki police station in-charge Waqar Hussain told PTI.
The incident took place when coal slurry was being loaded into trucks by workers, during which a large chunk of slurry fell and trapped several workers underneath, officials said.
The deceased have been identified as Manik Bauri, Dinesh Bauri, Deepak Bauri, and Hemlal Gope.
Meanwhile, the family members of the deceased and local villagers placed the bodies in front of the washery gate and began a protest.
They demanded compensation, jobs for dependents and action against those responsible for the incident.
Police and administration officials are trying to pacify the protesters, an official said.
