Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Aug 26: Hitting back at BJP President Amit Shah for his dynastic politics jibe, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today termed it as “hypocrisy,” saying the party should first “lecture” its friends in Maharashtra and Punjab.
“Please, let them (BJP) first lecture their own friends. They should give this lecture in Maharashtra, Punjab and in some other States as well. Then, if anything remains, they should say it to me. If they talk to me about it before lecturing their friends, then it would be nothing but hypocrisy,” he told reporters here.
Omar was here to lay the foundation stone for construction of a MLD Sewage Treatment Plant at posh Rajbagh locality in uptown Srinagar.
Omar also questioned Shah’s statement on the State Government’s dealing of migration crisis of citizens from the Line of Control and International Border. “The State Government has always been there to take care of our people who suffer from ceasefire violations and senior Ministers from the State Government, including the Minister of State for Home, have repeatedly visited these camps to inquire about the welfare of the people there. The State Government has spoken up for the right to safety and normality for these people and will continue to do whatever is necessary for their welfare. We are not in need of lessons from anyone else”, Omar said.
The NC Working President also said that he wondered what five Union Ministers from New Delhi did about the humanitarian issue of displaced border inhabitants on their official visits to the State.
“How many of these Union Ministers actually visited the areas along the border and Line of Control where people have been displaced because of ceasefire violations? There is a mismatch between what Amit Shah is saying and the approach of the Central Government and its Union Ministers towards those displaced by these ceasefire violations. As far as the State Government is concerned, we will continue to extend all possible help and support to the displaced citizens”, the NC Working President added.
Omar said the State Government would not allot any new power projects to NHPC till the corporation is ready to work in a joint venture and return the projects after 30 years of their completion.
“We are hopeful of the return of power projects, but they (NHPC) repeatedly reject our demand. We now have a policy that we will not give any project to NHPC. If the NHPC creates hurdles, then we too will,” he said.
The Chief Minister said till the NHPC is ready to co-operate with the State, the Government would not co-operate with them.
“From now on, if the NHPC wants to be a part of any project, then it will have to be a joint venture wherein the projects will be returned to the State after 30 years. If they are not ready to do that, then let the projects be where they are.
“When we have the money, we will build them ourselves, but NHPC will not be given any project – be that Dulhasti Phase Two, Uri Phase Two or any other project,” he said.
The Chief Minister said Indus Water Treaty (IWT) is the biggest fraud with the people of J&K.
“The resources here are first for the people of the State. They are our right first. Indus Water Treaty (IWT) is the biggest fraud against the people of this State. They (BJP) should intimidate Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, where they have not been able to set right the river dispute.
“Punjab, under (former Chief Minister) Amrinder Singh, unilaterally cancelled their agreement. Then their intimidation did not work.
“Why are they trying to intimidate the State of Jammu and Kashmir only? The people of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh have first right over the resources here and then we will see about the others,” he said.
Reacting over BJP president Amit Shah’s statement that Central funds were being misused in the State, the Chief Minister said, “the Central Government is with them, let them say where haven’t the funds been spent in proper manner”.
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