Excelsior Correspondent
PATTAN, BARAMULLA, Aug 31: Declaring that Pakistan’s role in Kashmir issue is an established fact, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today emphasised the need for sustained dialogue between India and Pakistan to address it.
He said the leaders of the two countries should talk and in the right direction and perspective to resolve this issue once and for all.
“We want to tell our children that Kashmir issue no longer exists and peace and development has taken permanent place in the State,” he said and stressed on the resumption of dialogue between India and Pakistan.
Addressing a public meeting here, the Chief Minister said the Kashmir issue was born at the time of partition of the country.
India considers it’s accession to it necessary for the secular characteristics of India, while Pakistan wants the area to be with it for having Muslim majority representative character.
Both the countries are nurturing their individual ideas in this regard and people of Jammu and Kashmir are suffering constantly, he said and called for a summit between the Prime Ministers of India and Pakistan to talk it out.
He said State Government or any political leadership here were not in a position to resolve the issues between India and Pakistan.
The Chief Minister further said some elements did not want the two countries to talk.
Mr Abdullah said these elements want the burning issues to remain burning for their vested interests and asserted that friendly ties between the two neighbours have a direct bearing on the peace and development situation in Jammu and Kashmir.
He said people of the State were eager to see the two countries talking amicably and in a conducive atmosphere to resolve all issues including Siachien and Sircreek.
Mr Abdullah said despite the fact that his party National Conference (NC) had not included the Kashmir issue in its 2008 Election Manifesto, yet the party vehemently highlighted the need for recognising the political genesis of Kashmir issue and resolving it politically through the process of internal and external dialogue.
“We will continue to bat for it and facilitate the dialogue, he said and asked the people to strengthen National Conference at all ranks to see Jammu and Kashmir moving forward in the direction of political stability and holistic development.
The Chief Minister said opposition Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) has lost ground under his feet so it tries to raise new slogans and make false promises to attract public attention.
He further said that the 60-year-old Kashmir issue could not be solved by the long struggle spearheaded by Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah.
“It could not be solved by the four wars fought by India and Pakistan. It could not be solved by 25 years of militancy and disturbance. It could not be solved through summits and dialogues,” he said and ridiculed PDP Patron Mufti Mohammad Sayed’s statement demanding 40 Assembly seats in next election to resolve Kashmir issue in a twinkle of eye.
The Chief Minister strongly emphasised that the role of Pakistan has been established in Kashmir issue in the Shimla Agreement, Lahore and Agra Summits.
He pooh-poohed the utterance of PDP leadership asking for 40 Assembly seats to solve the Kashmir issue. He challenged PDP by announcing the support of his 28 Assembly Members and asking it to come forward with a categorical solution to the Kashmir issue. “You have 21 Assembly Members. I will provide you the support of my 28 Assembly Members. You will have 50 seats with you. Let you come forward with a certain and categorical solution to Kashmir issue”, he told PDP adding that he is ready to relinquish the office in this regard.
“What a lie you are telling to people? People have understood your only agenda of grabbing power by hook or crook. The public is wiser enough to be led astray by you time and again”, he told PDP leadership and added that the leadership of PDP should read the writing on the wall written by the masses for writing this party off from the political arena of Jammu and Kashmir for this Party’s deceptive politics, brazen lies and vested interests.
“PDP has lost ground under his feet so it tries to raise new slogans and makes false promises to attract public attention. The ground below your feet is sinking and you believe to fool the people again and again. Not at all”, he lamented and maintained that the 60 year old Kashmir issue could not be solved by the long struggle spearheaded by Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah.
“It could not be solved by the four wars fought by India and Pakistan. It could not be solved by 25 years of militancy and disturbance. It could not be solved through summits and dialogues”, he said and ridiculed PDP Patron’s (Mufti Mohammad Sayed) statement demanding 40 Assembly seats in next election to resolve Kashmir issue in a twinkle of eye.
Presenting a list of achievements registered by his Government during the four-and-a-half year, Omar said despite difficulties and hiccups on peace and law and order maintenance front, state made progress in all fields.
He said his Government delivered on the development front meritoriously and provided good-governance to the people and mads administration transparent.
Mr Abdullah said in Baramulla district alone some 1000 km long roads were constructed, upgraded and improved during this period while as 40 new bridges have been constructed.
He said in Pattan constituency Rs 1550 crore have been spent on the development of roads, four new bridges and 70 km roads were also constructed.
He said a modern hospital involving Rs 7.17 crore is coming up in the area.
Mr Abdullah said Sub-District Hospital at Sopore has been constructed at a cost of Rs 60 crore.
He said Rs 1.10 crore Public Health Centre (PHC) Sheeri, Rs 1.48 crore PHC Hardshiva and Rs 1.18 crore PHC Delina have been completed while Rs 1.19 crore PHC Singhpora is under execution.
The Chief Minister said 670 new schools have been opened in Baramulla district out of which 100 are in Pattan constituency.
He said 569 primary schools have been upgraded to middle schools in Baramulla district of which 51 are in Pattan Constituency.
He said out of the 50 middle schools upgraded in Baramulla Districts 8 are in Pattan Constituency.
The Chief Minister also informed that his Government started 115 water supply schemes in Baramulla district at a cost of Rs 291.91 crore of which 12 schemes involving Rs 30.58 crore are in Pattan constituency.
He also mentioned other sectors of the development and said the promises made by his Government on giving fillip to five most important sectors of Health, Education, R&B, PHE and Power have been realised to a greater extent and the attention is focused on fulfilling all the commitments made to public in this regard.
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