Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 9: National Conference Legislature Party leader and former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today invoked Governor NN Vohra’s Address delivered yesterday at Jammu University on ‘Mufti Sayeed Commemoration Day’ saying he delivered the speech there from the “core of his heart” and didn’t read “readymade address”, which is given to him for delivering to Joint Session of the Legislature before start of the budget session.
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“During past one week, the Governor had delivered two addresses. One, which he was given by the Government in which he can’t make major changes that he delivered to Joint Session of the Legislature on January 2. The second address, he delivered yesterday at Jammu University in which he had no binding and he spoke from his heart,” Omar said while participating in debate on Motion of Thanks to Governor’s Address.
In the presence of Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, who was sitting in the Legislative Assembly and heard her predecessor’s speech, Omar said the Governor took the Government to task saying the administration should focus on delivery and that the governance wasn’t up to the expectations.
“Had Governor been permitted to say what he had to, he shouldn’t have said but he did during the Governor’s Address. The reality of this Government is what the Governor stated at the Jammu University yesterday,” he asserted in his 35 minutes speech.
Excelsior had today exclusively reported the Governor taking the Government to task on slackness in administrative machinery and stressing need to work in transparent and accountable manner. Vohra had made these remarks while addressing gathering on ‘Mufti Sayeed Commemoration Day’ in the presence of Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and noted economist Meghnad Desai.
Charging PDP-BJP coalition Government with “al-round failures” during their three-year stint, Omar pointed out that this was for the first time since 1996 that a State Government has failed to hold Parliamentary election in the State.
“This Government has succumbed before the Hurriyat Conference, which always opposed elections. Hurriyat always tried to disturb the elections and this Government has surrendered before them. If you can’t hold the elections…if you can’t give the voting right to people…this means you admitted that situation has deteriorated in the State. You haven’t been able to fulfill your Constitutional obligation. This has been happening for the first time since 1996,” Omar said.
Taking BJP also to task, he said had the BJP been in Opposition, they would have burnt effigies of the Government describing it “incapable and inefficient” but since now they are also part of the coalition Government, they have maintained silence.
Omar was referring to Anantnag Parliamentary by-poll, which was scheduled to be held in May 2017 but was deferred by the Election Commission after violence in Srinagar by-election. Since then, the election hasn’t been held. Tourism Minister and Mehbooba’s brother, Tassaduq Mufti was the PDP candidate in Anantnag against Congress chief GA Mir, who was backed by the National Conference.
Describing Government decision to hold Panchayat elections as “compulsion”, he said it would be seen whether the Government succeeds in holding the poll or not. “Threats have already started pouring in,” he added.
Referring to the Government claim of killing more militants last year, the former Chief Minister said it was due to the fact that more youths joined militancy last year and some of them took to weapons without any training.
“Even an Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) scholar has also joined militancy. Local militants were also becoming fidayeens. The PDP spokesman is expressing sympathies with the killed militants. CASO (Cordon and Search Operations), which the people had forgotten, have been revived. You compare 2017 with 2016 and say the situation has improved as 2016 was the worst. You should compared 2017 with 2013 and 2014 and then you will know the real situation,” Omar asserted.
Recalling that the Government had charged him with creating Burhan Wani, Omar asked: “do you know, how many Burhans you have created during last two years”?
Questioning the actions of the Centre’s Special Representative on Jammu and Kashmir, Dineshwar Sharma, Omar claimed he was acting as a “Super Chief Minister”. He demanded that the Government give a clarification on Sharma’s mandate.
“What is the mission of the Special Representative? If he works like a `Super Chief Minister, as we hear, by meeting delegations to look into the problems with regard to power, water, non-availability of doctors at hospital, unemployment issues. (But) It is your job,” Omar said addressing the Chief Minister.
“You (Mehbooba Mufti and Sharma) are treading on parallel tracks…. It is your responsibility and not Sharma’s to set right electricity transformers, to improve water supply or giving job orders to unemployed youth.
“If he is a Special Representative, as was mentioned by the Governor in his speech, his responsibility should be different,” Omar said.
Apparently referring to separatist leaders, Omar said Sharma should meet “such people, who will facilitate resolution of the big issues. The minor issues could be solved by you (the Government) as well”.
He said the appointment of Sharma by the Centre came months after Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his Independence Day speech from Red Fort, said that bullets or abuses will not resolve the Kashmir issue and that it can be addressed by embracing every Kashmiri.
“After the Prime Minister’s speech, we were hopeful of a new beginning and we waited and waited. Then, suddenly, an announcement was made about the nomination of Sharma but soon after confusion took over,” he said,
Omar asked the Government to clarify if Sharma was an Interlocutor or a Special Representative or a spokesperson as different voices were coming from the Governments at the Centre and in the State on the issue.
“First we don’t know what is the real status of Sharma. You said he is a Special Representative, and in speeches and interviews, he was given the status of Interlocutor, but MoS in PMO said he is not an Interlocutor but a spokesman,” Omar said.
The former Chief Minister asked what was Sharma’s “mandate and what do you want to achieve from his appointment”.
Whether there is a time frame for his mission or it will go on indefinitely. “He has the mandate to talk to all, says the Home Minister, MoS PMO says that the talks will be held within the frame work of Constitution while MoS Home says the talks won’t be held with separatists.
“You are saying he will talk with everyone who is ready for talks but the Home Minister says Sharma himself will decide with whom to talk,” he said.
Sharma is not here on his own will, the NC leader said and wondered “how he would say he will talk to separatist leaders Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq or Yaseen Malik”.
Omar said there should be clarity on his mandate.
The NC working president also asked the Centre to clarify whether Sharma is preparing a report and if it will be submitted to Parliament.
Omar cautioned the Government that if the “past mistakes” are repeated, “the people won’t have much faith” in the exercise.
“Some are our mistakes, some we inherited. If you are not setting right the past mistakes or adding another chapter, then what is the fun,” he said.
Omar questioned the Government on several fronts including militancy, poll promises and law and order.
“You are saying that situation did not allow you, but it is you who has created such an atmosphere. If the situation has deteriorated today, it is your responsibility,” he said.
He said the government has completed three years and it should not blame others for its failures.
He opined there was nothing in the Governor’s speech.
“He talks of certain things which you got in inheritance. Just show me one new project which was started by your Government,” he asked.
He said Farooq Abdullah Government (1996-2002) left some projects, which were taken up by Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and Ghulam Nabi Azad from 2002-2008. “Their Government left some projects and developmental works for our Government from 2008-2014. But the way your Government is working, you will leave nothing for the upcoming Government,” he remarked.
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Chenani tunnel, power projects and Katra railway line, which were taken up by the previous Government. You inaugurated Flyover, which was started by our Government. But what you are leaving for the next Government. There is nothing to mention,” he said targeting the Chief Minister.
Omar said it was during Mufti Sayeed’s three-year tenure that Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus was launched, working on Mughal road was expedited, Rajouri and Awantipura Universities were created. “Gas turbines were started in winter to give power to the people. Mufti also mentioned peace with dignity, healing touch and distributed SRO-43 orders”, he said. Similarly, he recalled, Azad created new districts during his tenure and gave the State Tulip Garden, Haj House etc
“But the present Government has nothing to its credit,” Omar said, adding he wouldn’t mention achievements of his Government during six years as it would make him highlight his own works.
He reminded the State Government that they have only one year to work as there will be Lok Sabha elections in 2019 and State Assembly elections in 2020. He said he don’t think that this Alliance will collapse.
Government spokesman and PWD Minister Naeem Akhtar countered Abdullah, saying, “The present situation is a result of the derailment of the peace process initiated by the then Mufti Sayeed Government and GoI (Government of India) in 2002 led by the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayeeji”.
Omar is himself responsible for such a situation, he said outside the Assembly in a brief chat with media.
“We have again started a structured peace and dialogue process in the state and we hope peace and normalcy will be restored by addressing all issues and problems,” he added.
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