Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 28: National Conference working president and former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today called for an end to border hostilities between India and Pakistan through dialogue and maintenance of peace, which would benefit the people living in the border areas.
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“When we can have patience with China despite about two-month long standoff at Dokalam, why we always talk of war with Pakistan”?, he asked and said war (with Pakistan) was no solution as it would only bring miseries to the border people.
Omar was addressing a massive public rally at Mendhar on second day of his tour to the border district of Poonch. Yesterday, he had addressed the rally at Poonch.
Asserting that dialogue between India and Pakistan was the only way out and not the war or border hostilities, the National Conference leader said it was time for both the countries to think over their issues including the border firing and resolve them.
“The people of border have been suffering in view of border skirmishes,” Omar pointed out and called for an immediate end to them so that the people of border areas can live peacefully.
He said the National Conference is consistent in its stand on thaw in the Indo-Pak relations, primarily for welfare and well-being of the border dwellers and overall peace in the region, as Jammu and Kashmir has been a major sufferer of hostilities.
He said there has been no return of fire-arm between India and China despite over two-month standoff in Dokalam but the borders with Pakistan are roaring with shells, making residents of the forward areas vulnerable.
In this context he referred to the yesterday’s shelling in which five civilians sustained injuries and said the people along International Border and Line of Control have been experiencing nightmarish experiences whenever guns roar from across and their plight cannot be felt in New Delhi or television studios that keep on indulging in jingoism.
Omar invoked former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and said his golden words that friends can be changed but not the neighbours, remains relevant in the sub-continent, which need to shed the baggage of the past and start a new era of trust, understanding and eventually friendship.
He added that wars have benefitted none, and it is only peace that can lead the neighbourly countries to peace, progress and development.
The National Conference working president touched volley of subjects during his 45-minute address to workers and functionaries that included attempts to tinker with Article 35A, PDP-BJP tie-up, failure of the coalition dispensation on all fronts, growing unemployment and developmental paralysis across the State.
Recalling the days of Government formation after the fractured 2014 mandate, Omar said National Conference had offered unconditional support to Mufti Mohammed Sayeed, primarily for keeping the BJP away, as its intentions vis-a-vis Jammu and Kashmir were well known, and also to carry forward the State’s odyssey to normalcy and development, strong edifice for which had been laid during his Government.
“We had made it clear to support the PDP from outside along with Congress and others, as long as the larger interests of the State and welfare of the people of all the three regions of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh were concerned”, he said, adding that the late Mufti Mohammed Sayeed had talked about getting more Central funds, jobs and other facilities from the Centre by aligning with the BJP.
“Now, the PDP owes an explanation to the people of Jammu and Kashmir as to what has been achieved during the past over three years”, he asked while expressing concern over “growing unemployment, administrative-developmental inertia and policy paralysis”.
In fact, he said, the State has been brought to an “unprecedented passé” where the people are suffering and the insensitive dispensation is taking vicarious pleasure in their miseries. He blamed the coalition partners for indulging in nepotism in respect of Government jobs, adding that all the defeated candidates have been rehabilitated as Vice Chairpersons with attractive perks and privileges.
“This is like adding salt to the wounds of unemployed, who feel betrayed”, he lamented.
Omar questioned the wisdom in implementing Food Security Act, saying the rationed population has been made to run helter skelter for standard supplies of food grains as per their requirements. The levy sugar quota has been discontinued and the supply position of other commodities is quite scarce. He said his Government had strongly opposed the implementation of this Act, as this was not in the interests of the poor people.
The NC leader said that same is the case with relief and rehabilitation of 2014 and subsequent flood sufferers and rain hit people. He said that the Prime Minister had announced Rs 80,000 crore package with much fanfare in Srinagar but it is yet to reach the people.
“Every constituency is suffering on account of development with utility services witnessing all time low maintenance and upkeep”, Omar added.
Javed Rana, MLA Mendhar, highlighted various issues confronted by the people of Mendhar constituency and said that due to misgovernance, their problems were accumulating each passing day.
Besides provincial president of NC Devender Singh Rana, prominent among those present in the rally included Syed Mushtaq Ahmed Shah Bukhari, Ajaz Jan, Rahim Dad, Khaliq Khan, Wali Mohammed Dad, Mohammed Qureshi, Peer Mazhar Ali Shah, Advocate Nazir, Zeehsan Rana and Shahid Choudhry.
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