Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, Sept 2: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today said that his party is yet to take a decision on a pre-poll alliance for the forthcoming Assembly elections with its coalition partner Congress.
While speaking to the reporters on the sidelines of Investiture Ceremony held at Raj Bhavan, the Chief Minister, who is also working president of the National Conference, said: “National Conference has not taken a decision yet on a pre-poll alliance with Congress.”
Omar was responding to questions about reports that his coalition partner in the State Government, Congress at a party meeting in Jammu, has decided to go it alone in the next Assembly elections.
The Chief Minister when asked if there were any differences between NC and Congress over the issue, said: “There is no tension. There is still some time to go for the Assembly elections.”
Omar said that the NC has given the responsibility to party patron Dr Farooq Abdullah to take a decision on pre-poll alliance. “Whatever decision he takes will be followed,” he added.
National Conference and Congress entered into a post-poll alliance following a hung Assembly in 2008 Assembly elections.
Although the coalition has functioned smoothly for most part of the past four and half years, there have been occasions when leaders from the two parties have traded charges.
The two parties contested the recent elections to the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council Kargil against each other with Congress getting together enough members to take control of the 26-member council.
In the backdrop of opposition to orchestra conductor Zubin Mehta’s concert in the Valley, Omar said music is a part of Kashmiri culture and to present it as outside Kashmiriyat is not right.
“Everyone has political views but music is in our culture. To present it (music) as outside Kashmiriyat is not right,” Omar said.
The Chief Minister was responding to questions about opposition from separatists and civil society groups in Kashmir against holding the concert ‘Ehsaas-e-Kashmir’ (the feel of Kashmir), organised by the German Embassy in Delhi on September 7.
Omar said those claiming that holding a music concert would affect the status of Kashmir issue were themselves weak.
“Either their leadership is weak or the issue is weak that a music concert will affect the status,” he said.
Omar said the German Embassy was trying to give people exposure to the Bavarian Orchestra. “I think it is a good thing.”
Asked if the Government will allow a parallel show being organised by a civil society group, Omar said he was not opposed to holding any event as long as it is peaceful.
A civil society group has decided to hold a programme titled ‘Haqeeqat-e-Kashmir’ (Truth of Kashmir) at the same time as Mehta’s performance on September 7.
The civil society programme is open to all artists, including musicians, cartoonists, photojournalists and calligraphists to showcase their works about Kashmir. The entry is free.
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