Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Aug 24: Terming frequent violations of the ceasefire as a “matter of serious concern”, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today expressed hope that the Centre would reconsider its decision of cancelling talks with Pakistan in order to end the border hostilities.
“I hope that there is some rethink on this (calling off of talks with Pakistan),” Omar told reporters after addressing a public meeting in the outskirts of the city.
India had called off Foreign Secretary level talks with Pakistan after Islamabad’s envoy to New Delhi Abdul Basit went ahead with meetings with separatist leaders from Kashmir even after he was asked by the Centre to desist from it.
Omar said the ceasefire violations along the Line of Control (LoC) and the international border were a “matter of very serious concern”.
“The ceasefire violations are increasing in intensity. They are no longer confined only to BSF posts. By design now, civilian areas are being targeted, civilians are being killed and injured. People are being forced to migrate from border areas,” he added.
Omar said as the communication between India and Pakistan has broken down, he does not know how the Centre will resolve the issue of ceasefire violations and its effects on the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
“Given the breakdown in communication between India and Pakistan, I don’t know how the Narendra Modi Government plans to resolve this issue but they have an obligation to resolve it because they promised the people of this country ‘acche din’ (good days),” he said.
The people living along the border are people of this country. They have as much of right to ‘acche din’ as anybody else but they are yet to see those ‘acche din’, he said.
“If anything, they have seen their days go from bad to worse. Therefore, I think it is time for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Government to fulfil their commitment of ‘acche din’ and restore peace and normalcy along the border,” the Chief Minister said.
Responding to a question, Omar said the cancellation of the talks was not the result of ceasefire violations.
“The cancellation of talks was result of ‘cup of tea’ that has continued every year since 1994. It is part of Pakistan’s, what they call, moral support.
“To expect that Pakistan would stop this before an overall settlement of the Kashmir issue, is I think to expect too much of Pakistan,” he said.
Omar did not foresee resumption of talks with Pakistan soon as the Centre has said talks with Islamabad will not resume as long meeting with separatists continue.
“Given that the bar has been set that till these tea sessions continue, the talks will not resume, I don’t know how we can expect the resumption of talks,” he added.
On BJP president Amit Shah setting his eyes on the election-bound Jammu and Kashmir, Omar said, he was not worried about it as his National Conference was the only party which can stop the national ruling party.
“As far as I know, the only party that can do this (stop BJP) is the National Conference. We will do everything possible to ensure that ‘ab ki baari BJP ki baari nahi hogi’ (this time it will not be BJP’s turn),” he said.
Omar said that PDP and some of its leaders were counting on some biased opinions, money-power and muscle-power to defeat the democratic power of the common-man. “Come elections in November they will face a rude-awakening and realize that democratic power comes from the grassroots and the common-man’s power to choose – not from propagandist opinions and certainly not by spending money”, he added.
Omar said that National Conference was the only party that had spoken about the political aspirations of the people of J&K while in power and that the party would continue to advocate a political resolution in line with the rights, views and aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. “PDP has shelved its ‘Self-Rule’ agenda and has disbanded its ‘Healing Touch’ slogan overnight with remarkable alacrity. While till last year every speech by every PDP leader revolved around these two terms and slogans, there isn’t a single mention of ‘Self Rule’ or ‘Healing Touch’ today. PDP has chosen a different path now and is busy appeasing BJP for political patronage and favors. They have taken a policy decision of not even talking in whispers about the political issue and come November PDP will face the fury of the people for this insult and backstabbing. While PDP exploited the tragedies and wounds of our people for political gains till now, they have today abandoned the cause of even openly acknowledging people’s political aspirations and are ready to do anything for a shot at power”, Omar added.
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