Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Apr 9: In a significant announcement, Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed said today that the State Government would re-examine the Special Flood Relief Package worth Rs 44,000 crores submitted by previous NC-Congress coalition Government headed by Omar Abdullah and submit it afresh to the Union Home Ministry for approval.
Addressing the Legislative Assembly as farewell speech of budget session this afternoon, Mr Sayeed said the Government will not demand more but make factual assessment and send it to the Centre for approval. All this will be done shortly, he added.
The Mufti’s statement assumed significance as he had met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Rajnath Singh only a day before in New Delhi and sought release of flood package. Finance Minister Dr Haseeb Drabu had gone on record saying that the previous Government had drafted the package taking speculative figures in haphazard manner.
Sayeed said that during his recent meeting with Modi in New Delhi he took up the issue of the flood hit people of the State.
“I took up the issue with Prime Minister. I have informed him about everything… I told him what we need to do. We have got a small amount of money so far,” he said.
Mufti said that the floods have damaged the ecology of various places and in Chenab valley the Dam (Baglihar Dam) has destroyed the ecology there. He added that the people who lost everything were required to be adequately compensated.
“The small-time traders and destitute, who lacked insurance cover, shall be provided financial assistance from April 15, enabling them to restart their lives,” the Chief Minister said.
Referring to earthquake prone houses constructed in Gujarat after devastating quake in Bhuj, Sayeed said architects can also be involved to visit and see what kind of houses can be constructed in Srinagar to save the people from floods and block the flood channels of the river.
He declared that his Government would work towards promoting ‘Border Tourism’ in Jammu and Kashmir.
“Like Wagah border, we will try to showcase the same in Suchetgarh in RS Pura tehsil,” he said amidst thumping of benches by the ruling PDP and BJP members.
While describing formation of the coalition Government as a historic occasion that respected the mandate of the people of all the three regions, the Mufti said the BJP-PDP alliance has the political legitimacy to govern the State as it represents the aspirations of all the regions.
He said a congenial atmosphere in the State is a prerequisite to reap the benefits of a healthy democracy. “The people have suffered much due to turmoil that hit the State over two decades ago and to realize our goals in realizing J&K’s full potential, peace has to be given a chance,” he said.
Recalling that since 1947 after Dogra Raj, the Jammu has been claiming that it was deprived of its rights and was not taken along, the Chief Minister said the Government will take all three regions along. “The PDP has mandate in Kashmir, the BJP in Jammu and Congress in Ladakh. We will take all three regions along. We want everyone to come together to build the State,” he declared.
Showering praises on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Mufti Sayeed said he has mandate of India and is legitimate Prime Minister of the country. “Similarly, we have mandate here. This is an historic opportunity for us to unite the people of three regions, give good governance and development, for which peace is pre-requisite,” he added.
Batting for reconciliation with Pakistan, he hailed the goodwill gesture of Pakistani for evacuating stranded Indians in Yemen and flying them in their aircraft to India. He also cited marriage between India and Pakistani couple in Uri recently. He said Poonch-Rawlakote and Uri-Muzaffarabad cross-LoC buses should now be extended beyond the divided families to boost the travel.
Referring to the demand from several MLAs to increase their Constituency Development Fund (CDF), Sayeed said as a matter of rights, the MLAs will get whatever they deserved. He added that he will take up their demand for raising their CDF with the Finance Minister and see what can be done.
Asserting that Jammu and Kashmir Assembly still has residual powers and had given several laws like Anti-Defection, which other States adopted, the Chief Minister said the State Assembly can lead in passing Women Reservation Bill, which has been hanging in balance in the Parliament for past several years.
Stating that peace was “prerequisite” for development, he said peace means reconciliation with our neighbours.
“We cannot dictate the Government of India with regard to its foreign policy but we say that reconciliation with Pakistan is prerequisite for peace and development,” he said.
The Chief Minister said he would work towards brining all the “internal stakeholders” on board and the process would take some time as the Government has to work towards more confidence building measures.
Mufti said he wanted to connect people of all the three regions of the State. “It (formation of PDP-BJP alliance) took us two months. Politics is an art of conviction. Our alliance (with BJP) is not a weak thread alliance. Our aim is to connect people of Jammu and Kashmir, I talked to many people and those who came onboard were welcome…,” he said.
Mufti said Kashmir was known for its multi-culture as members of all the different communities have lived together.
“There are certain areas where the people (Kashmiri Pandits) live as a minuscule minority with only a few homes, whenever someone dies it is the Kashmiri Muslims who help them to perform their last rites,” he said.
He also thanked all the members of the Legislative Assembly, especially youngsters and first-timers, for raising important discussions during the proceedings of the House.
He reiterated resolve of the Government to facilitate the return of Kashmiri Pandits so that they are reintegrated into the social milieu of Kashmir. For this, he said, a “congenial atmosphere has to be created”.
“Only 10 to 15 per cent of displaced Kashmiri Pandits will choose to return to the Valley,” he said.
As per reports gathered from interactions with Kashmir Pandits only 10 to 15 per cent of them will choose to return to the Valley, Mufti told the Assembly during Question Hour as he reiterated his Government’s endeavour to create a conducive atmosphere for those who are willing to return.
“They (Kashmiri Pandits) are well placed in various parts of the country and abroad… If we do something on the matter, they will come to the Valley on seasonal pattern,” he said.
“They are good and highly qualified people. Before this (militancy erupted) KPs have also gone out of Kashmir. They included P N Haksar, P N Dhar, Dr U Kaul and Dr Sameer Kaul. They need bigger canvas and move out of Valley,” he said.
“But in 1990 a lot of KPs went out of Kashmir from everywhere but we will try to bring them back,” he said.
His statement during the Question Hour came on clarification sought by CPM member MY Tarigami.
Speaking against separate township for displaced Kashmiri Pandits, the Chief Minister said when there were plans to set up camps for them “they were of the view that their settlement should be in their native places”.
“I am happy that one leader of Kashmiri Samiti opposed the idea of separate clusters for KPs and suggested that they should live at their native places,” he said, adding “they batted strongly that wherever they will live, they will live with Muslims, Sikhs and other together”.
“I want to tell the House… There is no plan (for a separate township for KPs in Kashmir). A hue and cry erupted that a separate Homeland is being made for them. I said that is not possible. Those who are living there have to spend their lives together. We will try our best,” he said.
“Diversity is a composite culture in Jammu and Kashmir which has got fragmented due to turmoil and militancy. Several Pandits have run away while some could not go,” the Mufti said, adding “it is our endeavour to bring back those who have left their homes and hearths in Kashmir valley”.
“In 2002, when I was Chief Minister I tried my best to bring them back. We initiated measures for face-lifting places like Khir Bhawani, Mattan and set up buildings,” Mufti Sayeed said.
“But when there were anti-Mufti protests by KP youths who alleged that they were being ignored by the Government, I directed the Chief Secretary to provide jobs to their children,” he said.
“When the plan for smart cities was formulated, I advocated for inclusion of KPs in them. I talked to Home Minister of India. I told him they cannot live in separation and if it happens they will live together,” he said.
“Then NC-Congress Government also initiated measures and provided jobs to KPs, educated youth in Kashmir valley. Four to five thousand such youth were given jobs as teachers under the condition that they will only serve in Kashmir Valley,” he said.
“We believe in secularism and to strengthen secularism, I want support of all the people… We are not in any hurry…,” Sayeed said, adding “we will take on board all the stakeholders and we want all people to live together”.
“It is a challenge for everybody — NC, Congress and all people — to bring KPs back to Valley but very less people will return,” he said, adding “it is not my duty alone as a Chief Minister but that of entire House and also political parties and the people of Kashmir”.
“They should not mix it with human problem. I want to request you that a message should go from this House that there should be no separate clusters for KPs the way Israel has set up… There will no such clusters for them. If we have to live we will live shoulder to shoulder together with their brethren in Kashmir,” Mufti said.
“We will not allow this tradition of Kashmiriyat to get wiped out from the pages of history. Gandhi found ray of light of secularism from Kashmir,” he said, adding that “we always held high flag of secularism in Kashmir if we have taken the steps for their return, then we should give a rebuff to those who are making this issue critical. Who want to create disturbances and stall the move”?
“I want to appeal to those also who are not in the mainstream that this is not an issue and do not play politics with it. I will also request them that J&K has a separate identity and place in the country as J&K has a culture and its tradition and we need to survive it. We should not raise the voices of hate,” Sayeed said.
“I want to tell the House that the Kashmiri Pandits are the symbols of diversity for which such a hue and cry was being made. There is no plan (of a separate township for KPs in Kashmir). The hue and cry was being resorted as to if a separate Homeland is being made for them. I said that is not possible. Those who are living there have to spend their lives together. We will try our best”, he said.
“We have said in our Common Minimum Programme that where we have constructed some houses in Mattan, we will settle them there with the cooperation of the people. It is a black spot on Kashmir the way hue and cry is being made over the issue”, he said adding “there is no need of such hue and cry”.
“We believe in secularism and to strengthen the secularism, I want support of all the people. Whosoever makes hue and cry, dents the image of Jammu and Kashmir. We are not in any hurry. People like Dr Sameer Kaul, Dr U Kaul and Dr Susheel Razdan come to Srinagar and treat and serve the people. We will not do anything in hurry”, he said.
The Chief Minister said: “We will take on board all the stakeholders. There will be no hurry. We want to flowering of secularism and have all types of flowers in the Valley. We want all people to live together”.
“It is a challenge for everybody- NC, Congress and all people in future to bring KPs back to Valley but very less people will return”, he said adding “It will be our endeavour to create a conducive atmosphere for those who will return to Kashmir. Whatever may be their number”.
“If we try to spoil the environment, who will return back to Valley. We have to create certain environment for their home coming”, he said.
“It is not my duty as a Chief Minister but that of entire House and also political parties and the people of Kashmir. I tell the political parties that if you find some political aim and racking up this controversy”, he said, adding the political parties shouldn’t mix it with human problem. I want to request you that it should go a message from this House that there should be no separate clusters for KPs the way Israel has set up– not like that. There will be no such clusters for them. If we have to live we will live shoulder to shoulder together with their brethren in Kashmir”, Mufti said.
“We will not allow this tradition of Kashmiriyat to get wiped out from the pages of history. Gandhi found ray of light of secularism from Kashmir”, Mufti said adding “We always held high flag of secularism in Kashmir if we have taken the steps for their return, then we should give a rebuff to those who are making this issue critical, who want to create disturbances and stall the move”.
‘It is the endeavour of the state government to create an environment for their return to their native places in Valley where they have lands and try to make a comprehensive plan for their return”, he added.
“I want to appeal to those also who are not in the mainstream that this is not an issue and do not play politics with it. I will also request them that J&K has a separate identity and place in the country as J&K has a culture and its tradition and we need to survive it. We should not raise the voices of hate”, he added.
The Chief Minister also appealed to separatists that they should not play politics over the issue as it gives a bad name to Kashmir.
Describing Kashmir as “an epitome of secularism and brotherhood that has withstood the test of time”, the Chief Minister said the Government is committed to create a favourable environment for return of Kashmiri Pandits to their homes so that the void created by their absence in the cultural milieu of Kashmir is removed.
He said his Government is determined to facilitate the return of Kashmiri Pandits as part of the Kashmiri society and not as an isolated community.
Describing as “misconstrued” the impression being created by certain quarters regarding establishment of exclusive habitations, Mufti said the Government has not acquired any land for setting up any exclusive enclaves.
He said the Government does not favour any clusterisation of Kashmiri Pandits but their complete reintegration as part of the Kashmiri society. “Some Pandit organisations have also stated that a majority of the migrated community will feel vulnerable if they return to the Valley and live in exclusive zones,” he added.
Urging all political parties to cooperate in facilitating return of Kashmiri Pandits to the Valley, Mufti said they are part and parcel of the multi-religious society of Kashmir and their migration over two decades ago was a huge tragedy.
“Our emphasis will be on taking all confidence-building measures for their dignified return. We are only taking forward a process initiated by previous governments,” he said.
Earlier, as the House assembled this morning, Congress Legislative Party leader Nawang Rigzin Jora raised the issue of Kashmiri Pandits township and charged the PDP-BJP Government of promising Centre 500 kanals of land in the Valley for it and demanded a response.
All the opposition members, including Congress, National Conference (NC), CPI(M) and Independent members Engineer Abdul Rashid and Hakeem Yaseen vehemently protested against the move.
Amid the din, CPI(M) member M Y Tarigami said, “Chief Minister is sitting here. Rumours are being spread to create controversy and disturb law and order over the issue of return of Kashmiri Pandits. It is a human issue. We all feel that they should come back to the Valley with respect and dignity but such steps (carving out separate townships) for them will create mistrust among the people in Kashmir”.
Tarigami said that House should be taken into confidence and Chief Minister should clarify its stand over the issue.
Intervening, Sayeed termed the reports as misconceived and totally incorrect and maintained that his Government has no plans to set up separate clusters for displaced Kashmiri Pandits.
The Chief Minister denied that he had given any such assurance to the Centre.
NC member Ali Mohammad Sagar accused Sayeed of becoming a tool for BJP’s agenda on Jammu and Kashmir.
Uproarious scenes were witnessed in the House with opposition members getting into heated arguments with BJP and PDP members.
Intervening in the discussion, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Basharat Bukhari said that Chief Minister has clarified his stand and now there is no need to make an issue and please allow the House to function.
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