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Talks only way forward: Omar

KT NEWS SERVICE. Dated: 7/12/2012 12:42:49 AM

‘Special status of J&K must be maintained at all costs’

SRINAGAR, JUL 11: The Chief Minister Omar Abdullah here today said dialogue between New Delhi and Islamabad is the only way out to find solution to Kashmir issue and stressed that both India and Pakistan should work towards resolving smaller issue to build confidence.
“We are aware that bigger issues can’t be settled in just few meetings, therefore we would emphasize on the need for certain result-oriented immediate measures to address smaller issues like strengthening of cross LoC trade by converting its barter status into normal trading pattern, easing of visa regime for cross LoC travel, construction of Tulbul navigational lock at Sopore, resolution of Sir-creak etc.,” said Abdullah while addressing party workers at the death anniversary of his grandmother, Begum Akbar Jahan at Hazratbal.
Omar Abdullah maintained that he has been taking up with Centre the issue of need for resolving political issues of Jammu and Kashmir in a political manner. “I am continuously batting for this goal whether in power or outside,” he said adding that he was highly thankful to the Union Government for the highest ever financial assistance granted to the State during his tenure. However, he reiterated that political issues are of separate nature and cannot be treated with economic measures.
The Chief Minister said that the K-issue has both internal and external dimensions and both need to be addressed.
Omar said that Jammu and Kashmir State enjoys special status and National Conference has always stood for strengthening it.
“National Conference will work vehemently to seek political resolution of political issues of Jammu and Kashmir in a peaceful and amicable atmosphere and shall not allow anyone to weaken the special status of the State,” said he. He added, “Hum martey dum tak is position ko barkarar rakhney kay liye khadein rehen gay” (We would protect this till we survive).
The Chief Minister said that the flag of National Conference represents the aspiration of people of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh. “It denotes the State’s unity and oneness and stands for equitable development and political stability of Jammu and Kashmir. Our political and development mission is clear and lucid. We stand by our promises,” he said and asked the people to give him hand in realizing the mission of Sher-i-Kashmir Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah and Madr-e-Meherban for peaceful progressive and new Jammu and Kashmir.
Omar said that National Conference has been the custodian and guardian of rights of people of Jammu and Kashmir since its inception. “We are for the unity, solidarity, brotherhood, communal harmony and equitable development of all the regions of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh.
Omar also criticised Hurriyat Conference (G) chairman, Syed Ali Shah Geelani for his recent statement that non-state subjects would be settled in the garb of return and rehabilitation of Kashmiri pandits.
“There is not an iota of truth that non state subjects are being rehabilitated in colonies established for Pandits. I challenged senior Hurriyat leader to raise the issue of non-state subjects settled by Pakistan across LoC on regular basis. Has he ever asked them about the demographic changes they are doing in that part of Kashmir?” said Omar.
Geelani early this month said he has reports that Government of India in the garb of rehabilitating Kashmiri Pandits is planning to create Israeli type of settlements in Kashmir.
Omar said they have many differences with New Delhi on political grounds but no one can say it has ever interfered or indulged in the rights of the people of the state regarding their State Subject status. He said Pandits are integral part of Jammu and Kashmir and they have left their homeland under severe conditions.
“Their (Pandits) return to their native land is their birth right. We would facilitate their return as they are the state subjects of the State like others,” he said adding.
He also castigated PDP for its policies and said they never talked of self rule, demilitarization, double currency and resolution of K-issue when it was in power for fear of losing the Chief Minister’s chair.
“I am not like them (PDP) who raised slogans like self rule, double currency, demilitarization etc when they were out of power. They did it only to create difficulties for Mr. Azad otherwise they were having no love for these slogans,” he said.
“PDP hyped the emotions of people but miserably failed when the occasion of delivery arose. They talked too much but showed zero result practically. They mumbled and fumbled when they got the occasion to rise and strike”, he said, referring to the healing touch policy of the PDP.
He claimed that PDP had opposed the rehabilitation and repatriation policy for the youth who had crossed the LoC when this party was in government and had also denied passports to the relatives of militants.
Taking a further dig at the party, he said that PDP raised slogan about demilitarization but we acted on ground and removed 40 bunkers from Srinagar city alone. They talked of resolving Kashmir issue but slept over their tall claims during their tenure and started talking of self rule when they were out of power”, he said adding that it was his government who worked and facilitated process of political addressing of political issues of Jammu and Kashmir.
Ridiculing PDP for misleading people and unleashing false propaganda against his government, Omar Abdullah said that those (PDP leadership) who talk of water resources of Jammu and Kashmir did not take any steps on the issue during their regime. On the contrary, “we have levied tax on power companies for utilizing water for power generation and realized more than Rs. 750 crores from NHPC as water utilization tax as a step towards compensation for usage of our water resources”, he added.
On peace and development, Omar Abdullah said that his government focused on this subject wholeheartedly and achieved glaring results visible to everyone. He said that during his tenure more than Rs. 10,000 crores are being spent annually on development in the State for last three and half years and this will further increase during next two and half years.
On empowerment and checking corruption, Omar Abdullah referred to the holding of panchayat elections, establishing powerful halqa panchayats, enactment of Public Service Guarantee Act, establishment of State Commission under Right to Information Act, strengthening of State Accountability Commission. He said powers from 14 departments have already been transferred to panchayats and constitution of block and district panchayat councils is in pipeline.
The Chief Minister paid rich tributes to Madr-e-Meherban and said that it was his support which gave strength to Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah to carry forward his mission for Naya Kashmir.
In his speech, Minister for Finance, Abdul Rahim Rather, Minister for Rural Development, Ali Mohammad Sagar and Additional General Secretary, Dr. Mustafa Kamal paid rich tributes to Madr-e-Meherban and highlighted her contribution for the welfare of weaker sections, women and children.