National Conference leader Omar Abdullah’s two sons have made a strong case for their father and vowed to prevent “outsiders” from snatching the land and jobs of locals during their maiden public speech in Ganderbal.

Politicians in the making — Zamir and Zahir Abdullah — had quietly accompanied their father during Lok Sabha polls but have since taken on an active role in his campaign for the Assembly polls. They are the fourth generation of Abdullahs to be charting a political journey.

The Muftis, another major political family in the Valley, have also fielded third-generation politician Iltija Mufti from the Bijbehara seat.

Zamir and Zahir — both in their 20s — are Omar’s sons with his estranged wife Payal Nath. Delhi High Court had last year dismissed Omar’s plea seeking divorce from Payal. Last week, the Supreme Court directed the two to appear before its mediation centre to facilitate a settlement.

Zamir and Zahir have mostly lived with their mother but are now increasingly seen in Kashmir.

“We have the first right on our land, jobs, sand, power and mountains — not outsiders,” younger son Zahir told a gathering in Ganderbal.

“All our resources, our mountains, sand are being snatched. Jobs should have gone to our youth but they are going out (to outsiders). All contracts should have gone to locals but are going out. All officers are from outside. Is this development?” he asked.

Zamir said Omar would stand for the rights of the people. “It is not Omar sahab alone who is saying it. The Centre is saying the same,” he said.

Zamir claimed the Centre was fielding jailed politicians (Sheikh Abdul Rashid alias Engineer and Sarjan Barkati) against Omar, suggesting they saw him as a threat.

Rashid defeated Omar in the Baramulla Lok Sabha seat while Barkati is locked in a contest with him in Ganderbal.