Srinagar, October 06 (Scoop News) –J&K Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah in his about 90-minutes speech in the Legislative Assembly on Wednesday said the accession of Jammu and Kashmir has taken place with India but the State has not merged with the country. “It cannot be placed at par with
Omar was replying the debate on the present law and order scenario in the Valley, once again underscored the importance of external and internal dialogues to address the political issues of
We also agree, but it is still a fact that
The Chief Minister said while there is urgent need for internal dialogue between the Centre and the State, the dialogue with the neighbouring country on
Omar Abdullah said only internal dialogue with separatists and other shades of the opinion are not sufficient unless a sustained dialogue is started with
The Chief Minister said successive governments in
“We have given the proposal of autonomy which is not only Kashmir Centric but it covers
Stressing on placing
Taking a dig on BJP’s approach towards the present crisis, the Chief Minister said, “it is easy to say that Jammu and Kashmir is the integral part of India and it sounds nice to the ears but if there is no doubt in your minds and hearts on this account, why you are time and again shouting this slogan from the top your voices? Why there is any need of saying this again and again? Why same slogan is not being raised for Tamil Naidu or any other State? At one hand you are granting special status to
Omar Abdullah said that Union Home Minister has rightly stated in the Parliament that accession to
“Those who think it the issue of good-governance, they are living in the work of ignorance. Had it been any such issue then entire State including
Omar Abdullah warned the consequences of not addressing the political issue of the State politically and said, “don’t blame me for future consequences on this count. He said either we have to work sincerely to stop this unrest and bloodshed once for all or we will be contributing to the unabated disturbances and killings”.
“When I talk about the softening of AFSPA or removing it from certain parts of the State where there is peace and no militancy, it is being connected with the Army and dubbed as a talk against the Army. How is it so, he questioned and said “I have never talked against the Army or any other force, I am only talking about the accesses committed against common people and this is nothing but advocating implementation of rule of law. We are against the doers of injustice and violators of law whosoever he may be. The Country’s constitution gives right to every citizen to seek justice as such wherever we feel any access has been committed by any force we bring the doers of it to the book. By removing AFSPA we mean removing it from the areas where there is no role of Army and no Army personnel is deployed there’.
“We have initiated FIR against five police persons in Anantnag for violating the human rights and they will be handed over the punishment in the due course of law. Similarly, we have initiated actions against those involved in use of excessive force and accused of human rights violation, in the past and will continue to give justice to the people in future. It is my duty to ensure justice to all and till I am sitting on this chair, I will do so”, he said.
On 8 point Jammu Kashmir package, the Chief Minister said that the initiative is to build confidence. “There are certain responsibilities on the State to accomplish while Government of India has to render certain responsibilities under the 8 point package. We have removed 15 bunkers out of the 16 identified for the purpose. Similarly, 50 students have been released and the decision about the detained under PSA is being reviewed today”, he said.
“The Union Government has the responsibility of immediately constituting the group of interlocutors and starting dialogue in the State. The group should not be of bureaucrats or retired officers but comprised of political persons having full knowledge of
Rejecting the concept being hyped by some quarters that Central Government is controlling the State Government’s functioning by a remote control, the Chief Minister said that seven points out of the 8 point package were discussed with him by the Union Government but the 8th point about the opening of schools was not in the agenda as the schools in most of the rural areas in the Valley were functioning and the problem about the running of schools was only in the city and the towns. “In fact, I had sorted out this issue with the State Education Minister and a decision for enabling functioning of schools in the city and towns was taken a day earlier than the announcement of 8 point package. If I had been consulted in this matter I would have told that there is no need of including this point in the package”, he added.
On the statement of Union Home Secretary about the lifting of curfew, he said it was not his domain to give any statement in this regard. “It is not either me or the DGP and Chief Secretary to decide upon the imposition or lifting of curfew. It is the District Magistrate who has to decide about this as per the prevailing ground situation”, he added.
He said “we want to work in unison with the Union Government to bring back peace and normalcy and carry forward the development agenda on accelerated pace so that the dream of peaceful and prosperous
“My Government received full cooperation from the Centre during the past and in the present law and order situation. However, the cooperation from people is most important in my efforts to move ahead towards the goal of prosperity and public service. I have sought mandate from you and you have given me an opportunity to serve better. Allow me to accomplish my agenda and render my duty towards you in the given timeline. If I fail in delivering, you are there to reject me next time”, he added.
On the role of PDP in present law and order situation, the Chief Minister rejected the idea that this party has launched the agitation. “The issue is not three months old it is decades long and 20 years of militancy has added to its gravity. The PDP has no strength or guts to initiate any such agitation. Yes, they choose to ride the bus on which they had no control. They sat in the bus but without any control on its staring or brakes. They could have helped in the efforts of the government to restore peace but the party decided to be the part of the problem and not the part of the solution”. He said that PDP could have elaborately deliberated upon the present crisis suggesting the ways and means to bring back normalcy, but they choose to be away from the House and the debate.
Expressing surprise over those who did not raise any voice on the issuance of agitation calendars, instigating youth to resort to violence and stone-pelting, the Chief Minister said that this has ignited the cycle of violence in which precious 110 human lives were lost. “The main cause of law and order situation and killings is the reckless calls of ‘Chaloo’. They tried to drag people like animals without thinking of the consequences. The Quit Kashmir slogan has only resulted in quitting of Kashmiri doctors, engineers, businessmen, students and peace-lovers from the Valley during last three months. No member of the security force or Army has left the Valley instead many have arrived to deal with the situation. For three months shopkeepers, bus operators, daily wagers, etc. have undergone tremendous losses and on development front there has been heavy damage too. Besides, loss of precious lives, infrastructures from Tangmarg to Mendhar has been destroyed. The total brunt has to be borne by the Kashmiris. The loss of education by the students is now the talk of the town. You can imagine how much loss we have incurred in all sectors especially in the sector of tourism. Common Wealth Games were in the Country and we were expecting tremendous tourist rush here this autumn but the hotels and houseboats are empty because of the situation created”.
“Till the danger of announcing calendars for strikes and chloos hangs on the heads of people, the situation will not improve. I have tied-up the hands of security forces and given categorical directions for minimum use of force in dealing with law and order situation. In my opinion even the minimum force applied is more. I want to stop the use of force at all and my request to all is to help me in this direction. Let us be part of a political discourse being started by the Centre. Let us talk on back channels, quietly or in any other manner but help the endeavour of addressing the political issues of the State politically. Leaders of the various shades of opinion should talk themselves keeping their party men and general public away from the political wranglings so that the economic losses incurred are made good of to some extent in the coming months. Entire working season in the Valley has been marred in most parts especially in towns. The progress of construction of infrastructure in the sectors of health, education, etc. has been hampered. The gigantic macadamization programme could not be accomplished due to unfavourable law and order situation. I have directed the Chief Secretary and the concerned in the Administration to work for complete functioning of the government offices so that employees render their service to the people and help making good of the losses incurred in the development front”.
The Chief Minister said that it is his responsibility to give justice to the people in general and those who have been bereaved in the recent law and order situation in particular and he will work in this direction with full determination.
Omar Abdullah appreciated the people of
The Chief Minister appealed to the people for bringing back peace saying “much bloodshed has occurred, many graveyards have been created, countless tears have been dropped, gloom and sorrow have engulfed us, parents, mothers, sisters, fathers, brothers and others are bereaved. Let us now work together to stop it and seek solution of issues through political discourse”.
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