Fight for upholding Article 370 not an electoral plank: Omar Abdullah

SRINAGAR: National Conference leader Omar Abdullah today said that his party's fight to uphold the special status of Jammu and Kashmir was not an electoral fight but an ideological battle for state's political dignity.

"The demand of National Conference reversing erosions in Article 370 and for the restoration of internal autonomy in Jammu and Kashmir was not an electoral plank but formed the basis of a struggle that Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah spent 23 years in jail for," Omar said addressing election rally in Beerwah constituency.

" Sheikh Abdullah did not spend almost half his life in prison as an electoral plank," Omar, who is contesting from Beerwah segment, said.

"We are not seeking power to steal urea or rice from the godowns of the people. We are not seeking power to start land grabbing. We are not seeking power to facilitate BJP's ambitions in JK. We are asking for your vote so that we can again fight the battle that we fought in 1953 under Sheikh Sahab's command," Omar said.

The Chief Minister said that NC believed in serving the developmental and governance related day-to-day needs of the people.

Omar, however, said that development is not a substitute for the political resolution of the Kashmir issue.

"Our proposed resolution is the reversal in the erosions made to Article 370 and the complete restoration of internal autonomy. We will continue to stand by these perennial demands with renewed vigour and strength," he said.