New Delhi, Dec 4:
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today warned that any move to abrogate Article 370, which defines relationship between the State and the Centre, will reopen the issue of the State’s accession to India.
Omar also minced no words in saying that Article 370 of the Constitution was acting as a “bridge” between Jammu and Kashmir and rest of the country and attempts to weaken it would only weaken this relationship.
Omar’s forthright comments came in the backdrop of a debate set off by BJP Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi’s recent statement in Jammu that a debate should be held whether Article 370 that granted special status to J&K had benefited the State or not.
Replying to a question by BJP leader Vijay Jolly at “Agenda Aaj Tak” of India Today group conclave, Omar regretted that Article 370 was being presented as if it was distancing the state from the rest of the country.
“I can’t understand why are you people projecting the Article 370, which is the foundation stone of relations between Jammu and Kashmir with rest of India, as a provision which is creating a distance between Kashmir and Delhi.
“Ok now when you want to talk about the abrogation of Article 370, please explain which is the way you are going to adopt for its abrogation.
“The only way to abrogate it is by recalling the Constituent Jammu and Kashmir Assembly where the question of state’s accession with India can again be reopened,” he said and added that more you try to harm the “bridge” the more you are weakening the relationship between the state and rest of country.
Referring to the recent political row over Article 370 and call by Modi for a debate, Omar asked where had he in his tweets written that there should not be any debate on Article 370. “It is BJP which changed its position.
“First Modi said there should be debate on 370 and later their spokesperons started backtracking and said the Article 370 should be removed and there is no scope to debate.
“There are lot of misconceptions about Article 370 in our country. It is said that because of this Article people from other parts of the country cannot purchase land in the State. That it is a ploy by Kashmiris to keep rest of Indians away from the State. It is absolutely wrong. Article 370 is part of the Indian Constitution which connects Kashmir with the rest of the country,” Omar said.
He said that internal laws of the State are in no way related to Article 370. “Narendra Modi said that it is because of Article 370 that Omar Abdullah married an outsider and can have properties in the State but his sister cannot have properties in the State. So I said it is wrong.
“Either you are intentionally lying or your advisors are giving you wrong information. I did not get any response on that,” he said.
Talking about relations between India and Pakistan, Omar referred to statement made by former Foreign Minister of Pakistan Hina Rabbani Khar who said war hysteria was built after recent incidents along the Line of Control (LoC).
“We don’t raise pitch without any reasons. Our soldiers were beheaded and we protested. Now, ever since the borders have been peaceful, we too are,” he said.
He also stated about the escalation of tensions along the border took place at a time whe Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was in the US for a meeting with American President Barack Obama.
The highest point of tension between the two countries came when the two leaders were meeting there. “Ever since the meeting ended, things are silent once again,” he said and added that this was a desperate bid by Pakistan to internationalise the Kashmir issue.
Ask about Sharif’s statement that Jammu and Kashmir can be a flash point for fourth war with India, Omar said “the statement was given at the assembly of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir which was meant for local consumption.”
Pakistan has not changed its perception towards Kashmir, he said, adding that things have not reached at a level between the two representatives that an elected Chief Minister of the State can share dais with former Foreign Minister of Pakistan.
When asked about Modi as Prime Ministerial candidate, the Chief Minister said although there was no wave for the BJP leader, he did have an impact on masses.
“Modi’s impact is visible. And this impact is visible in other states as well. What will be the impact on Parliament election that is yet to be seen but it is true that BJP cadre has got a new lease of life,” he said.
On whether his party would be open to an alliance with BJP like they had aligned with NDA, Omar said their relations were not with BJP but with NDA and especially Atal Bihari Vajpayee who was a unifying figure.
“What are you comparing (Modi and Vajpayee)? It is like comparing apple and orange. Where is Vajpayee and where is Modi? You cannot compare them,” he said.
Omar, who is a friend of Rahul Gandhi, said the Congress Vice-President is yet to start his general election campaign and “poor response” in his rallies for state election is a reflection of public anger towards State Governments and not at him personally.
“It would have been good if he had joined the Government. It was his personal decision not join the Government. The Prime Minister repeatedly tried to bring him in the Cabinet but it was his own decision,” he said.
On the issue of withdrawal of Armed Forces Special Powers Act from Jammu and Kashmir, Omar said he did not wish to adopt a confrontational approach with army on this and would try to convince them.
“It will not be right to overrule Army. We have to sit with Centre and bring a solution. They will have to agree. They are saying that withdrawal of International forces from Afghanistan would directly impact Jammu and Kashmir, which I do not agree, but if they feel so, let wait till 2014,” he said.
The Chief Minister said he was not getting as much support from the Centre as he got from then Home Minister P Chidambaram, who has now taken the charge of Finance Ministry.
“If these terrorists are getting so much freedom despite AFSPA, then whose fault is it? I never said that Army is opposing withdrawal of AFSPA because of their personal interests. I agree they have security and strategic concerns that is why I do not want to push for withdrawal of AFSPA,” he said.
Omar said if he wanted, the State Government could have forced its withdrawal.
“I just have to have a Cabinet decision which is to be forwarded to the Governor who will accord sanction and AFSPA would be revoked. But I do not want to force our way. I do not want to fight with Army on this issue. I want to convince them into it,” he said.
On his tough job profile, Omar said Chief Ministers of Andhra Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh are in much more difficult position than him.
Omar said the State is unable to host any international cricket match as there are no stadia or infrastructure required at that level.
Even as Ranji matches have started in Srinagar, he said when compared with cricket stadia in other cities the standard of those in Jammu and State capital Srinagar was no match in terms of facilities.
“It can happen but to host international cricket we do not have stadiums of that quality. Earlier, when we used to host international matches, the standard of stadiums was not so high across the country. But now when we compare the stadiums of other cities with those of Jammu and Srinagar, we do not have that level of infrastructure,” he said.
Omar said he has requested his father Union Minister Farooq Abdullah, who is the also the chief of JKCA, to give at least one good stadium in the State to bring it on the international cricket map.
“The State cricket board president is my father and I keep complaining to him about it. I requested him that give us at least one good stadium in the state. We may not initiate with international match but we can start with an IPL matches in which international players, exhibition matches. If we can take these small steps, in two three years, we can surely have international matches as well again,” he said. (PTI)
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