Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, Dec 21: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today rubbished the reports that he is contesting next year’s Assembly election from Sonwar instead of Abdullahs’ home constituency of Ganderbal.
While speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a function at Rajbagh, Omar asked his uncle and Member Legislative Assembly, Dr Mustafa Kamaal, to speak about his own constituency. It was Kamaal who had disclosed that Omar is shifting from Ganderbal to Sonwar in Srinagar.
“Dr Mustafa Kamaal can talk for Hazratbal, and he cannot talk for Ganderbal. I am representative of Ganderbal and elections are after one year. Let us discuss it later”, said Omar.
It may be mentioned here that Kamaal had recently said that Chief Minister is not contesting next year’s election from Ganderbal and instead he is shifting to Srinagar’s Sonwar constituency.
On Sajjad Kitchloo being cleared by Justice Gandhi, Omar said that he has set an example of being a responsible politician. “He has set an example of being a responsible politician by resigning from Ministry till his name was cleared”, he added.
The Chief Minister said that Kitchloo had no role in communal violence in Kishtwar. “In fact he tried to douse the fires of the violence”, he said.
“Some people were not happy with him. They targeted him and made his ministry as an excuse. He resigned from Ministry and made it clear that he won’t come back unless cleared”, said Omar.
“Yesterday he was given a clean chit and today I inducted him in the Council of Ministers and returned all his portfolios to him”, he added.
Omar said that Justice Gandhi in its report has said that Kitchloo was made a victim and was not responsible for the communal violence in Kishtwar.
Chief Minister said that his Government is examining the report of Justice Gandhi on Kishtwar communal violence and will take action against all the erring officials.
After laying foundation stone for state of art swimming pool at Rajbagh, Omar told reporters that his Government focussed on upliftment of youth in the State since beginning. “We have developed sports infrastructure in the State which no Government has done so far. We got the Indoor Stadium at Srinagar vacated”, he added.
“We have installed artificial turf for hockey and football. Earlier we were giving attention to cricket only and now we are focussing on other sports like squash, football, hockey, tennis and basketball”, said Chief Minister.
Omar asked Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to respect the mandate of the people of Delhi and enter into a coalition with Congress to form the Government.
“Had the people of Delhi wanted a single party to rule the State, they would have voted the party to power.
“The people of Delhi have asked for a coalition and if AAP and Congress come together to form a coalition, it is the wish of the people,” Omar said.
He said AAP has not announced its decision yet and after winning the polls, it seems the party has gone for another sort of an election by returning to the people to seek their opinion on Government formation.
“If you (AAP) think you will form the Government without any support, you have to wait for absolute majority for a very long time. It is better the party should come forward and fulfil the promises which it made to the electorate and which cannot be fulfilled by remaining in opposition,” Omar said.
He said the people had given AAP an opportunity to form Government.
“This is the time for coalitions. If you take Jammu and Kashmir or the Centre, coalition Governments are there,” the Chief Minister said, adding nobody forms the coalition by his own will and it is decided by the people who give their verdict.
After the passage of Lokpal Bill in Lok Sabha, he said, “It is now time to fulfil other promises they (AAP) made to the people of Delhi,” he said.
Asked about the prospects of AAP in Jammu and Kashmir, the Chief Minister said he does not underestimate the party because it has performed well in Delhi.
“There are no footprints of AAP here till date. When they have their footprints here, then ask me what effect would the party have. I don’t underestimate them because they have performed very well in Delhi. Whether they will repeat the performance in Jammu and Kashmir, is perhaps impossible,” he said.
However, the Chief Minister said almost every election here till now there has been a change of Government.
“In 1996, National Conference formed the Government, in 2002 PDP-Congress formed the Government and then in 2008 NC-Congress came to power. When people want change, they bring the change,” he added.
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