Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Nov 7: Former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah while describing the outcome of Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, visit to State as disappointing said he was expecting political package rather than economic.
“We are disappointed. We were prepared for a historic visit which did not happen. We did not get to hear what we wanted to hear. Perhaps we should not have attached too many hopes,” Omar told a news conference here this afternoon.
The NC leader said economic packages will not resolve the political issue of Jammu and Kashmir as it had not done in the past. “The packages are good. I said this much to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi at the Anantnag rally that Jammu and Kashmir is a political issue which needs a political solution. There is perhaps no Chief Minister since Bakshi Ghulam Mohammad who has not got package (from the Centre),” he said.
Omar said the ruling PDP-BJP combine had raised the hopes about Modi’s visit with one of the PDP Ministers terming it crucial for the forthcoming generations of Kashmir. “The way we were prepared and what we got was akin to making a mountain out of molehill,” he said.
The NC president said there was nothing new in Prime Minister’s speech at the rally. “I regret that we were not waiting for the package as much as we were for a new political thinking.”
Omar said Modi during his speech invoked former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s ‘Insaniyat, Jamhooriyat and Kashmiriyat’ for addressing the political issues of Kashmir. “Vajpayee used the Srinagar platform in a difficult situation to reach out to Pakistan and start a dialogue process with the Hurriyat Conference”, he said.
“Coming here, the Prime Minister (Modi) said he does not need lessons from anyone. Before him, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed talked about starting dialogue. The PM did not listen to Mufti Sahib. What is Mufti Sahib doing when his words did not stand for few minutes? Where is the agenda of alliance?”, he asked.
Omar said he was expecting renewal of talks with Pakistan and the alienated sections of the society but a “good opportunity has been lost”.
NC leader said democracy should not be reduced to Panchayat elections. “We also held panchayat elections … we also spend money but the basic issue has not been resolved,” he said.
Omar said the Prime Minister did not need to come here to announce the package as it could have been done from anywhere. “He did not have to come here to announce the package. We did not need to be locked inside and hundreds need not be detained,” he added.
Omar said the PM’s visit was a step backwards in resolving the political issue of Jammu and Kashmir. “Vajpayee’s context (in 2003) was about dialogue with Pakistan and alienation sections. The issue will not be resolved by playing a cricket match here. If this is what we had to go through for a rally, imagine what we will have to go through for a cricket match,” Omar said referring to stringent security arrangements today.
The NC leader said the Prime Minister could have broken silence over the hate attacks and atmosphere of intolerance in the country. “We wanted to hear about insaniyat and where was it when our youth was burnt alive in Udhampur. Where was insaniyat after Dadri and Himachal. To talk about democracy when hundreds were detained ahead of the rally … when armed (RSS) rally was allowed in Jammu while force was used to disperse peaceful procession in Kashmir. Kashmiriyat we saw in the Assembly when Engineer Rashid was attacked,” he added.
Omar said he will be keenly watching the election results of Bihar tomorrow. “As far as Bihar elections are concerned, I am equally keen to know the results. In fact, I have not been this keen to know the election results since my own elections last year. That should tell you just how important I feel these elections are,” he said.
The former CM said he wanted the Grand Alliance to win a thumping majority in Bihar elections. “I know what I want to see .. I am hoping that the alliance against the BJP wins and wins a thumping majority. What that will mean for the country, we will have to wait and see but I think it will be an important outcome,” he said.
Asked about the presence of people from Bihar at Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s rally here, Omar said “to get people to the rally became their compulsion. “The situation was such that perhaps people would not come of their own will. They got people from Bihar, it is good but if they had to get them anyway, they should have held this rally 10 to 15 days earlier. Perhaps, the presence of people from Bihar would have helped the BJP in Bihar elections. Their presence in the rally did not prove much beneficial to them,” he added.
Asked to comment on Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi’s statement on his party’s fight against RSS, the NC leader said he had nothing to offer on it.
“Rahul Gandhi has given his point of view. Why should I feel the need to comment on it. The Congress’ history viz a viz its fights against the RSS is there for everyone to see. I would neither add to it nor subtract from that,” he added.
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