On 16 August, former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah slammed the BJP-led Centre for raising the issue of Balochistan at a time when Kashmir is reeling under violence for over a month now.
6 protestors dead in Kashmir in 24 hours but WTH let's go sort out Balochistan since we are doing such a good job in J&K at the moment!!!
— Omar Abdullah (@abdullah_omar) August 16, 2016
Following the all-party meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 12 August, the Centre decided to raise the issue of human rights violations in Balochistan province of Pakistan.
PM Modi also made an oblique reference to the human rights situation in Pakistan's Balochistan province apart from Gilgit and other areas of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in his Independence Day speech from the ramparts of the Red Fort.
On 15 August, Omar Abdullah also slammed Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti for not taking responsibility for the ongoing unrest in the Valley.
Speaking about the times when Mufti as the leader of the Opposition, blamed the then J&K Chief Minister for the violence in the Valley, Omar claimed that Mehbooba was only "living in denial".
Between 09-14 everything was my fault but as of the last 4 months nothing is @MehboobaMufti's fault. #livingindenial https://t.co/p1vtntV0Kj
— Omar Abdullah (@abdullah_omar) August 15, 2016
Mehbooba, who made her maiden speech at an Independence Day function as Chief Minister, said in her address, "Encounters have taken place in the past, will continue to take place. What was my government's fault?"
--With PTI inputs
First published: 16 August 2016, 13:08 IST