‘J&K is not like any other State’
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Jan 8: Former Chief Minister and National Conference vice president, Omar Abdullah said today that some bureaucrats and politicians don’t want Assembly elections in the State to be held on time and didn’t agree with the statement of Governor Satya Pal Malik that Jammu and Kashmir is like any other State saying it has special status under Articles 370, 35A and in view of its accession.
Omar was speaking to media persons after addressing day-long convention of Youth National Conference at Sher-e-Kashmir Bhawan, the party headquarters.
“Some politicians don’t want timely elections to the Legislative Assembly. Even some bureaucrats too want the elections to be delayed. However, the National Conference was firm that the Assembly polls should be held on time and elected Government should take over at the earliest,” Omar said.
However, he said, Union Home Minister, Rajnath Singh had left no one in doubt after his identical statements in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha that the Central Government will provide requisite para-military forces to the Election Commission for holding Assembly elections in the State on time.
The former Chief Minister said he “clearly” heard Singh saying in Parliament that “whatever number of forces is required by Election Commission for holding Assembly and Lok Sabha elections together, we will provide them”.
Replying to a question on Governor Satya Pal Malik’s statement that Jammu and Kashmir is like any other State of the country, Omar described the statement as “wrong” saying J&K was different from other States at it enjoyed special status under Articles 370, 35A etc.
“Some part of the State is with Pakistan and China. Which other State is like this? Several wars have been fought on Kashmir. Pakistan shelling takes place only in this State,” he asserted.
On another statement of the Governor that more murders take place in Bihar in a single day than total killings in Jammu and Kashmir in a week, the former Chief Minister said it was for Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to reply on this.
“Jammu and Kashmir is a political problem which requires police handling and political solution. When you refuse to acknowledge this, you are not going into root cause of the problem,” Omar said, adding the Government needs to understand the anger among youth.
He said compared to just a dozen or little more youth, who joined militancy during his tenure as the Chief Minister from 2008-2014, far more than this number are taking to arms on monthly basis.
He said during their Government, number of the militants was very less and, therefore, less action was required. However, more action was being taken now as number of militants has significantly gone up during past three-four years, he added. He made it clear that the killings won’t solve the political problem, which has to be dealt with politically.
Replying to a question on youths joining militancy in the state, Abdullah said he does not justify what they do.
“I have never justified the use of militancy to achieve political gains. I always believed that J&K is a political problem and hence needs political handling and a political solution, which can be arrived at via dialogue,” the former Chief Minister said.
On apology tendered by PDP chief and former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on her “toffee remarks”, Omar said, she made the statement in 2016 and should have realized it then.
“However, she didn’t realize it even in 2017-18. But when now elections are round the corner, political realization has dawned upon her rather than actual apology. But it’s good, she has realized (the mistake),” he asserted.
Referring to prominent political leaders joining the National Conference, Abdullah decried the statement of PDP president Mehbooba Mufti, describing leaders leaving her party as “garbage”. He said the statement speaks volumes about “lowest depths” of political discourse.
He said large-scale desertions in the PDP are reflective of the “anger” among people for the “miseries” caused to them during the past three and half years.
On National Conference president, Dr Farooq Abdullah’s statement on Ram temple, Omar quota Farooq as saying that no one can go against the Court decision and everyone must respect this.
Omar termed as “politically motivated” a bill introduced by the Centre in Lok Sabha that seeks to amend Constitution to provide 10 per cent reservation quota to economically weaker sections from the general category.
The National Conference (NC) vice-president also trained his guns on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the Government introducing the reservation bill in Parliament on the last day of the Winter Session, saying “had PM been sincere, he would not have waited for nearly four and a half years”.
“You (BJP) have majority in Parliament for past four and half years, but you did not find it (bill) necessary. But on the last day of the last session of the current Lok Sabha, you (BJP Government) bring this bill and create a new category. It is straight way politics being done and people are being fooled”, Omar said.
He questioned the timing of the bill, saying: “I have problem with the timing. As far as the bill is concerned, it will be decided by Parliament or court. My question is about the timing. How come this reservation becomes suddenly necessary”.
Hitting out at PM Modi for announcing reservation for economically weaker sections belonging to upper castes ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, Abdullah said, “Politics is a strange thing and politicians are masters in using the people. They think people are naive and gullible”.
“Prime Minister suddenly announced reservation. Had he been sincere, he would not have waited for nearly five years,” Abdullah said.
The former Chief Minister attributed the decision to BJP’s defeat in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and Telangana Assembly polls.
“The person (PM), who wants to do it with a clear intention, would not wait for so long. They were defeated in elections in MP, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and Telangana, and have suddenly woken up to announce this 10 per cent reservation. They have no intent to give reservation. If they would have clear intention, they would have given it earlier. Their intention is clear that it would get through (in Parliament)”, Abdullah added.
Pointing towards its use in the 2019 general elections, Omar said, “If the bill doesn’t get passed, the BJP will say that they tried but Parliament didn’t pass it and they will offer the same excuse if it is defeated in the court.”
Asked whether he supports quota for the poor category among the upper caste, Omar said if it does not violate the Supreme Court direction of 50 per cent quota and there is consensus among all political parties, he has no reservation with it.
He said the BJP has “failed” Jammu and Kashmir and only made “fake promises” of starting a new chapter of employment in the state.
The BJP-PDP Government destroyed the peace in Jammu and Kashmir, he alleged.
Omar described increase in terror related violence as “alarming and disturbing,” saying terrorism is raising head in the hitherto militancy free areas.
“In my tenure, Chenab Valley had been declared as militancy free zone but now the acts of terror are reported from there”, he said and refereed to the killing of a BJP leader in Kishtwar along with his brother, terror attacks in Sunjuwan and as latest as recently grenade throwing in busy B C Road in Jammu. He said terror activities have unfortunately become routine in the Valley and due to lack of vision it is spreading its tentacles in other parts as well.
Omar sought an end to youth alienation by engaging them in positive pursuits and reiterated the commitment of National Conference to work for carving out vistas of opportunities for them. He lauded the spirit of public service among youth participating in the convention and described them as hope of the extended NC family.
National Conference general secretary Ali Mohammed Sagar, recalled the various initiatives taken for betterment of youth during the tenure of Omar Abdullah as Chief Minister and said the party will continue to work towards assuaging their urges and aspirations.
Provincial president Devender Singh Rana said that the youth have many hopes with the NC leadership in general and Omar in particular, especially as they were left in lurch during the past few years by the PDP and the BJP.
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