Opposition front to take 'greater shape' before 2019 polls, says Omar Abdullah
Kolkata, July 28 : Former Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday said the proposed Federal Front will take a "greater shape" before the 2019 general elections and no effort for opposition unity will succeed unless the Congress is able to take the fight to the BJP.
"We were discussing how best the regional parties can come together to take on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the forthcoming general elections. Obviously, no effort towards opposition unity will really succeed unless the Congress is also able to take the fight to the BJP the way we hope," the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference leader said on the sidelines of an event -- Think Federal Conclave.
Abdullah, who met West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday, said this is "an ongoing conversation".
"It (forming a Federal Front) is an ongoing process and as we get closer to general elections of 2019, I am sure it will take greater shape," he said. "You have seen a number of efforts were made by (former Congress President) Sonia Gandhi to bring opposition parties together."
Abdullah pointed at the presence of opposition leaders at the swearing-in of Karnataka Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy and said more such attempts would be made in other states as well.
Speaking on Jammu & Kashmir, he reiterated his party's demand that the assembly be dissolved and efforts made to improve the overall situation in the state.
The state is currently under Governor's rule after Chief Minister and PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti resigned following the BJP quitting her government and walking out of the alliance.
According to Abdullah, the situation should be like what it was there in 2014, when the assembly election was conducted in November-December.
"Discussion for conducting the elections can be started after improvement in the situation. Under the prevailing situation, there is no scope for discussion on the elections," he said.
Asked whether the India-Pakistan relationship will improve with a new government coming in power in the neighbouring country, he said let the new government be formed first.
"Let Imran Khan form the government. He has never been in power before.
"There is a need to see what kind of relationship Islamabad wants with India and what is their approach regarding terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir and the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack," Abdullah said.
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Tirupati Laddu controversy an 'attack' on Hindu sentiments: Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati
Patna, Sep 24: Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati, the Shankaracharya of the Jyotish Peeth in Uttarakhand, on Tuesday termed the Tirupati Laddu Prasadam controversy an "attack" on Hindu sentiments and demanded strict action against all those involved.
The shankaracharya was in Patna as part of his nationwide 'Gau Raksha Yatra'.
Talking to PTI Video here, Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati said, "The incident is an attack on Hindu sentiments….it’s an attack on the faith of crores of Hindus. It’s a part of organised crime. It is a big betrayal done to Hindu community…this must be probed thoroughly and strict action should be taken against all those involved in this."
"It’s not appropriate to call it a controversy… it is more than that. One Mangal Pandey refused to open the greased cartridges from mouth during the 1857 revolt, it created a revolution in the country. But today it was put in the mouths of crores of Indians….it's not a small thing. Investigation into the matter should not be delayed. We Hindus just cannot forget this incident", said Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati.
While expressing concern over cow slaughter in the country, he demanded a law to check cow slaughter.
"We want a countrywide ban on slaughter of cows and also demand a stringent law to check it...It's quite disturbing that the export of beef is increasing day by day in the country. The Central government must take proactive steps in this regard. On one side Prime Minister Narendra Modi plays with cows and feeds peacocks at his official residence and on the other side the export of beef is increasing in the country…," he said.
"We don't have much expectations from politicians on this front", he said, adding they can't think for the betterment of Hindus.
"All politicians take an oath to remain secular when they become part of a political system... We have decided to organise all Hindus to check clow slaughter in the country...," he said.
On the question of opposition parties' demand for conducting caste-based census in the country, he said, "There is nothing wrong in it…The matter should not be politicised. The caste-based census must be conducted so that the government can take steps for the betterment of people belonging to socially weaker sections of the society.
When asked about the controversy over the Centre's move to amend the Waqf Act, Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati said, "Such properties are meant for the welfare of humanity….We request them (custodian of Waqf properties) to provide us Waqf land and we will convert them into cow grass fields. It will be a great service to humanity."
