Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, Oct 20: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah while ruling out concrete road to Holy Amarnath shrine today offered State helicopter to hardline separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani to ascertain the ground realities.
The Chief Minister while addressing a gathering after inaugurating the renovated Bulbul Shah Shrine in Old City area of Srinagar said: “We have two choppers, let him choose a day and go wherever he wants around the Amarnath shrine. Then let him prove that a single meter of road length has been macadamized or any step has been taken that is harmful to environment”.
Omar said that Geelani should read the Supreme Court order and 200-page report submitted by State before the apex court before jumping to conclusions. “Not once has been the word road or macadamization used in the report. What road is he talking about? Only the track will be repaired and that too after getting the necessary clearance from the Forest Department and other concerned agencies,” he added.
He said that Geelani is spreading falsehood and misleading people to disturb peace in Kashmir valley. “While we are working hard to restore peace and tranquillity, provide employment to youth, help trade and tourism activities to flourish and carry forward a comprehensive development programme across the State, some people have made it their mission to create law and order problem for their self interests”, he said.
While clarifying the issue, Omar said that neither Shrine Board has asked the State Government for any land nor State Government is going to give it to the Board. He said that the construction of gates is only to regulate the flow of yatris and restrict the movement of a particular number of them on the track on a particular day to avoid over crowdedness and ensure safety.
The Chief Minister said that enemies of peace want us to remain cut off from people by creating law and order situations. “Our endeavour is to remain joined and linked to the people always and work for all round development and redressal of public grievances”, he added.
Omar said that the State has suffered a lot due to militancy and disturbances. He said that old city had to bear maximum brunt of the militancy. “You had to face the militant attacks, crackdowns, arrests, stone-pelting. You had to bear the difficulties most but you have not received dividends of peace as much you should have”, he added.
The Chief Minister said that his Government has initiated special measures to ensure holistic development of old city adding that road widening project and creation of handicraft clusters in this area is in the pipeline. He said that Government is working on a project to create direct liaison between the artisans living in old city with the visiting tourists so that they can sell handicraft items at their work places to the visitors.
While addressing a gathering at village Sheermal after inaugurating a Rs 6.7 crore bridge over river Rambiara in Shopian South Kashmir later in the afternoon, the Chief Minister again targeted Geelani for misleading the people on holy Amarnath shrine issue.
He asked the people to understand the need of peace for prosperity, welfare and employment generation in the State and not to fall prey to the nefarious designs of these people.
Omar said that he would continue to work for the political stability and peace in the State. He reminded the people of his continuous efforts in this direction and said that he is continuously advocating political resolution of political issues of Jammu and Kashmir.
“I have told the highest central leadership a number of times and at the open public meeting in South Kashmir on the occasion of inauguration of railway track that Kashmir is not an economic issue but a political one requiring political addressing”, Omar said.
He castigated PDP for criticising Government without any basis. He said that they opposed the rehabilitation policy for return of youth from Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) when they were in power.
Omar said: “Chair is not dearer to us we have been fighting for public cause and welfare of the people all along. We will continue to do so in future. We represent people and their welfare is dearest to us.”
He said that the elections to Panchayats were held to empower the grass root level public representatives and ensure all round development in the State in accordance with the public requirements in particular areas.
Omar said that Block Development Councils (BDCs) elections were deferred as the reservation issue for Schedule Caste, Schedule Tribe and women was raised. He said the necessary amendment to the Panchayat Act will be made to accommodate this aspect so that polls to BDCs are held as early as possible.
He said that his Government has made development process an apolitical affair and all areas whether represented by coalition legislators or opposition are getting equal treatment on the development front. He said his current visit to Shopian is the third one and all these visits were in connection with development of the area and interacting with people to hear their views and demands.
On the development of Shopian, Omar said that during the current year more than Rs 190 crore are being spent in the district which includes Rs 63.74 crore under District Plan. He said more than Rs 308.89 crore are being spent in the district to complete various development programmes. These include construction of six bridges, six irrigation schemes, seven water supply schemes, 18 road schemes, 13 schemes for construction of health institutions, construction of 90 school buildings, completion of 2354 works under MGNREGA, three bridges on Mughal Road on Shopian side, 23 kilometre Kadar-Qaimoh road, Ganowpora Grid Station, electrification of 143 habitations.
Omar during his address at old city and Shopian said Jammu and Kashmir cannot be treated at par with other States of the country on the LPG cap issue in view of sub-zero temperatures during winters.
Omar told gathering at old city: “I have told the Central Government that Jammu and Kashmir cannot be placed at par with Delhi and other States so far as supply of LPG is concerned.” He said the people here have to live in sub-zero temperatures and face the difficulty of heavy snowfall.
The Chief Minister said: “Our highways remain cut off for days together during winter months. There is already ban on cutting of forest trees.” He said the supply of electricity to the State is limited and when we restrict the supply of LPG to them, and asked where will they go?”.
Omar said the State Government is strongly advocating the case and some solution to the problem will be arrived at. He also said he is fully aware of the difficulties being faced by the commoners on this count. “I have given categorical directions to the police and concerned department to take severe action against unscrupulous agents indulging in black marketing and creating false scarcity”, he said.
Omar said he has directed the CAPD Minister Qamar Ali Akhoon to remain stationed at Srinagar even after the Darbar move, till the problem of supply of gas cylinders to the consumers is over.
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