Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 26: Two main opposition parties in the Assembly, National Conference and Congress have demanded that White Paper proposed to be brought by Finance Minister Dr Haseeb Drabu on financial position of Jammu and Kashmir should be from the period since 1996 and not just be confined to past six years of previous NC-Congress Government.
Former Chief Minister and National Conference Legislature Party leader Omar Abdullah said the document should assess the financial position of the State since 1996 and not only for the previous NC-led rule.
“When did we oppose bringing out White Paper (on State’s finances)? Let them come out with a White Paper. If they have to bring out the White Paper, let them bring it out on the State’s financial situation since 1996,” Omar told reporters outside the Legislative Assembly.
“Why should there be a White Paper on six years period only? He (Drabu) should also bring out the White Paper when he (Drabu) was Financial Advisor to the State Government and Chairman of Jammu and Kashmir Bank during PDP-Congress coalition Government from 2002 to 2008 and before that since 1996,’’ Omar said.
“They should bring out White Paper on the finances of the State since 1996. Everything will be revealed,” he said.
“We do not have any objection to it even if he wants to bring out the White Paper on six-year period of governance, let him bring,’’ the former Chief Minister said.
While replying to the discussion on State budget, Finance Minister Dr Haseeb Drabu had said a day before that the Government will come up with a White Paper on its performance.
Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Nawang Rigzin Jora also said that the White Paper should cover the period from 2002 when Drabu was Economic Advisor to the Government.
“The White Paper should come but it should cover the period from 2002 to 2008 also,’’ Jora demanded.
Meanwhile, asserting that dialogue is the only way to resolve Kashmir issue, Omar Abdullah said gun is no solution to solve Kashmir issue and attempts have been made in the past but they have failed.
“If somebody has today batted for talks, it is nothing new. We have repeatedly said that gun is no solution to solve Kashmir issue and attempts have been made in the past but they have failed”, Omar said.
The leader of National Conference Legislative Party (NCLP) said “if you have to resolve this issue, then talks are only way to resolve it”.
Omar was replying to a question about the PDP batting for talks with Pakistan and international stake holders like Hurriyat to resolve Kashmir issue.
Omar said “What initiative do you talk of? Please come out with my speeches of last six years. Whether it is the Chief Minister’s internal security conference, Unified Command meetings, 26 January and 15 August speeches… And I have repeatedly reiterated in those speeches– there is no other alternative other than the talks to resolve the issue”.
Follow our WhatsApp channel