‘Malik chose peace, talks over violence’
Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Sept 20: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today said that the issue concerning jailed president of Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front, Yasin Malik, should be left to the courts and cautioned against exerting any political pressure on the judiciary.
Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp
Speaking to reporters here, Omar said, “There is no need to politicize this matter. Whatever one may think, the reality is that at some point Yasin Malik chose to give up the gun and adopt the path of peace. He tried to resolve issues through dialogue and always remained supportive of the process of talks.”
The Chief Minister stressed that judicial independence must be respected. “The court should be allowed to deliver its judgment. Any attempt to influence the court through political pressure is not a healthy practice,” he said.
Omar added that the future outcome will be determined by due process. “That is all I will say for now, let us see what happens ahead,” he said
The Chief Minister said that opposition politics will not derail his work and his focus remains on rebuilding J&K and reviving its tourism sector.
“Opposition will always oppose, but I am not afraid. My work will not stop because of them. It is my duty to take the Government in one direction and bring J&K out of this mess,” he added.
Omar stressed that his Government is committed to reviving tourism after the recent setbacks. “Tourism received a big push after Pahalgam. I want the sector to stand on its feet again, and I will continue to work for it,” he said.
He said that the flood has damaged infrastructure, agriculture, and livelihoods across J&K. “The loss has been immense, loss of lives, especially during the two yatras in Kishtwar and Katra. There has been loss of property also,” he said.
The Chief Minister revealed that over 330 bridges have been washed away, more than 1,500 km of roads destroyed, government buildings damaged, and crops and horticulture badly affected.
“We hope the losses will be properly evaluated and that a relief package will be sanctioned so people can be compensated,” he added.
Omar said all demands for rehabilitation and relief will be placed before Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his proposed visit to J&K. “We expect the Prime Minister to announce a good package for the people of J&K,” he said.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
