BJP issues ‘missing’ Omar Abdullah posters

SRINAGAR: BJP launched Friday a poster campaign targeting Omar Abdullah while he is reportedly on a private visit to London, describing the J&K chief minister as “missing” and seeking “information about his whereabouts”.

The posters were shared on J&K BJP’s official social media handles and circulated on WhatsApp. The posters say the “missing person holds the office of CM” and has not been seen for 10 days. Omar’s National Conference (NC) dismissed the campaign as something unworthy of a response.

They posters claim Omar was last seen on May 11 while laying the foundation for restoration of the Mughal-era Malshahi Mosque in Ganderbal, near Srinagar.

BJP state spokesperson Sajid Yousuf Shah said NC had not issued any statement on the CM. “There are reports he is in London. The chief minister has every right to travel wherever he wants but the people of J&K have not elected him for the things and activities he is engaged in. He is a frontrunner in marathons. In exactly the same way, he is running away from his responsibilities,” Shah said, alluding to Omar’s regular participation in marathons over the years.

Another BJP spokesperson, Altaf Thakur, warned the poster campaign would not be confined to social media and would be taken to the streets. “The CM is answerable to J&K’s people. It is surprising there is no report about him for 10 days,” Thakur said.

Omar’s father and NC president Farooq Abdullah scoffed at the posters, saying BJP has nothing better to do in J&K than launch such campaigns. “We are not here to answer them,” the former CM said.