Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Oct 21: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today said that youth who waved Islamic State (IS) flags in Kashmir have no links with militancy and hoped that Central Government will take a serious look at the issue of Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) following sharp drop in militant violence in the State.
Speaking to reporters on the side lines of Police Commemoration Day function at Zewan in Srinagar today, Omar said: “Till now, none among them has been found to be related to militancy. Now, why did they wave those flags, that can be known after the inquiry is over.”
Chief Minister said that most of the people who waved the IS flags have been identified and cases were registered against them. “Police has conducted an inquiry into it and most of the people who have been found to be waving such flags have been identified and a case has been registered against them”, he said.
Omar said that there is considerable improvement in the security situation in the State and hoped that Narendra Modi Government will take a serious look at the issue of the AFSPA. “We were being led to believe that 2014 was going to be a very violent year for Jammu and Kashmir because the withdrawal of the international forces from Afghanistan would lead to a corresponding increase in militancy in JK. That didn’t happen and therefore, regardless of what happens over the next few months, I do hope that the Modi Government will take a serious look at this issue of AFSPA”, he said.
Chief Minister said as there has been steady improvement in the security situation time is ripe for revocation of AFSPA. “And I believe, I believed even a few years ago but more so now, given the fact that there has been a steady improvement over the years that this is an opportune time to make progress on that issue”, he said.
Without naming the Army, Omar said that despite 70 percent reduction in militancy during past six years and new reasons were found for not proceeding on AFSPA revocation. “No infact if anything, the situation showed a considerable improvement. Year on year, there has been reduction in militancy in double digits percentage wise. If you take the base as 2008-2009, the decline in the militancy has been of the order of 60 to 70 per cent. But unfortunately new reasons were found to not proceed on the AFSPA issue, particularly the withdrawal of the US forces from Afghanistan”, he said.
Chief Minister said that BJP’s victory in recently concluded elections will have its impact on elections in Jammu and Kashmir but not to that extent as was previously expected. “…And therefore, while obviously, the BJP will have some effect in J and K, I don’t think it will be as much as has perhaps been previously expected”, he said.
Omar said that BJP has not done as well in the Assembly polls in Maharastra and Haryana as they were expecting. “Yes, they have done well, but not nearly as well as they had expected. If you compare BJP’s Parliament results in Haryana and BJP-Shiv Sena results from Parliament till now, they haven’t translated Parliament results into Assembly results in those States. In Haryana, they just about crossed the half-way mark. In Maharashtra, they need to go back and eat a bit of a humble-pie and look for an ally, where they were talking about making a Government on their own”, he said.
On Jammu and Kashmir elections, Chief Minister said that people of the State have to be ready for the polls if the Election Commission of India decides to hold the polls here by the end of this year. “I don’t have to take a decision on the elections. It has to be decided by the ECI. They came here, had discussions at official level and talked to various political parties and perhaps they will announce their decision in the coming few days. If they decide on conducting elections, then people have to be ready for that. I cannot say anything on it as the head of a Government, but the party’s stand on the issue has been made clear to the ECI and to the people through the media”, he added.
Earlier in his address, Omar told Police that they a new challenge of providing secure environment for the polls. “Now, we have to get ready for a new challenge. There is a possibility that ejections would be announced in the coming days and if it is so, then you will have to do your work. We cannot decided on who votes and who doesn’t. We cannot pressurize the people to come out to vote and they should not be even forced to stay away from voting and you have an important role to play in that. You should give confidence to the people and provide a sense of security to them, so that they take their own decision. If they want to vote, they should do so in a polling booth. (You) should rise above political considerations and do your work only. The voter will himself decide who wins and who losses”, he added.
On London Million rally in support of Kashmir, Chief Minister said that they should have conducted it in Kashmir and faced the consequences. He said that these people who are living cozy environs of London and Washington are telling people of Kashmir what they should be doing.
“It is a fact that the further away these people get from Kashmir, the more involved they get in Kashmir’s politics. I have no problem in these people propounding an ideology, but it would be better doing it from here rather than cozy environs of London, Washington, Paris and places like that. Come to Kashmir, live here and then do it. I have far more respect for those separatist leaders, who actually do it in Kashmir and then face the difficulties that are brought about on account of the law, from those people who sit in cozy capitals like London and Washington and then try and tell the people of Kashmir what they should be doing”, said Omar.
Chief Minister said that London rally is a matter for Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and his Government is dealing with internal situation. “That is again a matter for the MEA. As far as we are concerned, we are focusing on the internal situation here. We are focused with relief and rehabilitation of the flood affected people”, he added.
Follow our WhatsApp channel