‘Also bring back areas held by China with PoJK’
*Terrorism up in Jammu post Art 370 abrogation
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Mar 6: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today launched scathing attack on the BJP for its stand on abrogation of Article 370, Maharaja, slapping of Public Safety Act (PSA) and other issues and asked if repealing special status have set everything right then why terrorism has gone up in the Jammu region and asserted that none has stopped the Government from bringing back the PoJK but they should also get back parts of India held by China.
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In his 40 minutes speech in reply to debate on Motion of Thanks to the Lieutenant Governor’s Address in the Assembly, Omar expressed confidence that Statehood will be restored in a year saying hopefully next year, it will be the Governor who will deliver address to the Legislature and assured the House that all promises and commitments made by them (the National Conference) will be fulfilled in five years.
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Referring to the speech of Leader of Opposition (LOP) Sunil Sharma in the Assembly minutes ahead of his address, the Chief Minister asked him which development works couldn’t be done in Jammu and Kashmir without abrogation of Article 370.
“You (the LOP) have mentioned development works after Article 370 abrogation including AIIMS, IIT, IIM, Ring Road etc. I won’t go into the issue that these works were started prior to 2019, but please just tell me which of these works couldn’t be executed without scrapping special status of Jammu and Kashmir,” he asked.
Referring to the statement of BJP MLA Shakti Raj Parihar, Omar said they blame both Pakistan and Article 370 for spread of terrorism. “If Article 370 was responsible (for terrorism) then why you are opposed to talks with Pakistan and if Pakistan spreads terror why to blame Article 370?” he asked.
“Surjit Singh Slathia and Sham Sharma (the BJP MLAs who were sitting in the House) were Ministers in National Conference-Congress Government know how we freed Jammu of terrorism. The terrorism has gone up in the region after Article 370 abrogation and they (the BJP people) can’t deny this. When attacks took place earlier on pilgrims, City, Reasi, Rajouri town and other such areas”? the Chief Minister asked.
He said the BJP leader (Sunil Sharma) has mentioned another benefit of Article 370 abrogation as increase in number of Gujjar MLAs in the Assembly due to political reservations. “This is wrong. Earlier, there were nine Gujjar MLAs, now there are six only,” he added.
However, Omar said, they are hopeful on Article 370 (restoration) on twin fronts, legally and politically.
“The three Judges verdict can be heard by 5 Judges and then there is a full bench. During Rajiv Gandhi Government, there were only two BJP MPs. Had anyone then though that there will be such a change in political scenario which is at present,” the Chief Minister said without referring to the BJP Government storming to power for third consecutive time.
He said if the Article 370 ended corruption then why the BJP leaders are themselves calling Jal Jeevan Mission as `Jugadu Jeevan Mission”. The BJP MLAs have levelled charges of corruption in mining, land use etc, he asserted.
Asserting that nobody can snatch a right from citizens to discuss Article 370, Omar said some people are trying to “intimidate, threaten and silence us” but his party will continue its fight for the rights of people of Jammu and Kashmir.
“We will not backtrack from this fight. At times, some people are trying to intimidate, threaten and silence us but we are not those who will go silent. We will continue our fight for the rights of the people, their dignity, development and brotherhood,” the Chief Minister said.
However, he did not identify those people who are allegedly threatening National Conference legislators.
Coming down heavily on the speech of Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma, Omar said he (Sharma) is saying that speaking on Article 370 was like wasting the time of the House but the reality is that it was BJP members who talked most about the Constitutional provision that granted special status to J&K.
“We say that it will come back and you live with your hope and we will also live with our hope. Who knows what will happen next,” Omar said, adding “you cannot snatch a right to talk on this issue from us”.
Referring to the statement of External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on PoJK, the Chief Minister asked: “Who has stopped them from bringing PoJK back. Did we ever say don’t bring PoJK back. They (the BJP) blamed Congress for surrendering Hajipeer to Pakistan (in 1965 war). But what they got after Kargil. They had an opportunity to bring back”.
When you look at the map of Jammu and Kashmir, one part is also in China but you do not talk about it,” he said, adding when the BJP-led Central Government brings back PoJK, they should also bring that part of J-K which is presently in China and “we will be grateful to you”.
Taking the BJP leadership to task on the charges that National Conference has insulted Maharaja, the Chief Minister said be it his Government, Congress or any other political party, none has challenged legacy of the Maharaja.
Without referring to change of names of various places by the BJP Governments in different States, he said none has changed the names of Partap Singh College, SMGS and SMHS hospitals or roads etc in J&K.
“The Maharaja gave us the State of Jammu and Kashmir and what you did to that (State),” he asked amid slogans of shame-shame from the treasury benches. He went on: “You even separated Ladakh from the State. Did you ask the people there? From Day one, Kargil wasn’t with the decision. Now the Buddhists of Leh are also opposing. Those who distributed sweets post Aug 2019 decisions are lamenting the decision. A march was taken out from Leh to Delhi”.
Omar said the Maharaja gave the State subject laws, our land, our jobs. “Where are they now? Even Himachal Pradesh is now better from us which has protected 70 percent employment for locals. Where is such a law in Jammu and Kashmir? Now tell me , who has defamed the Maharaja,” he asked as the treasury benches again shouted the slogans of shame-shame.
Taking the BJP to task for using derogatory remarks against those lost their lives in July 13, 1931 agitation in Kashmir, the Chief Minister said your thoughts and ideology can be different but the words should be used very cautiously. He reminded the BJP members that post July 13, 1931 agitation, the Maharaja had taken series of steps including setting up of a Commission.
“A Praja Sabha was set up by the Maharaja which was then converted to the Assembly. None has called them traitors. They were fighting for democracy. The only problem (with the BJP calling them traitors) is that they were Muslims,” he said.
On cancellation of July 13 and December 5 holidays (the birth anniversary of late Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah), Omar said the Government can cancel the holidays but their sacrifices can’t be forgotten. He said he would have himself surrendered the holiday of December 5 if he was asked for. In fact, he said, Surjit Singh Slathia (who was a Minister in Omar-led NC-Congress coalition Government) from 2009-14 knows that he wanted to reduce holidays and was himself considering doing away with December 5 holiday.
Expressing confidence over restoration of Statehood in a year, the Chief Minister said hopefully the next year’s address to the Legislative Assembly will be read by the Governor. It may be mentioned here that a State has the Governor while the UT has the Lieutenant Governor.
“Half of our dignity was gone with the Statehood. Just ask Sham Sharma (former Congress Minister now with the BJP) where he stands in the protocol now. I was above the Union Cabinet Minister as a Chief Minister when J&K was a State. Now, I am even below the Union Minister of State,” he said and declared that fight for the Statehood is not his own but that of people as many things can’t be done or given practical shape till the Statehood is restored.
Referring to Peoples Conference legislator Sajad Gani Lone’s demand that a resolution should have been passed in the House for restoration of Statehood instead of passing the resolution in the Cabinet meeting, he said such a resolution was not deliberately moved in the House considering that every member is supportive of the demand.
“Our dignity has gone with the downgrading of the State (to Union Territory). If you wish to move a resolution on it, please go ahead and we will support you,” he said.
He said the fight for statehood is based on “truth, justice and law” and its restoration will provide relief to the people of J&K.
The Chief Minister assured the people that his Government will fulfill all its promises from ‘A to Z’ including those related to prisoners and arbitrary termination of Government employees on the charges of anti-national activities.
He said a lot was talked about the NC manifesto which “we have prepared with a lot of thought and is our promise to the people of J&K. When we put forth our manifesto before the people we told them that give us five years…we assure the people that we will fulfill all the promises from A to Z, whether related to prisoners or termination of Govt employees. We are promise bound to do that”.
In its manifesto, the National Conference had promised to prioritise the release of political prisoners and youth who have been unjustly detained in jails and are not involved in serious crimes besides seeking amnesty for all political prisoners.
It also talked about ending unjust terminations of Government employees and said “it will address and rectify cases of unjust job terminations, ensuring fair treatment and job security for all employees”.
Referring to the members’ criticism of Lt Governor’s address, he said the Lt Governor’s speech cannot replace his earlier speech made in the November session shortly after the formation of the Government but is in addition to that speech.
“Some (members) termed it as a love letter (from NC to BJP)…I do not go into it but want to make it clear that we made new additions and next year I hope that when we will meet (for budget session), there will be a Governor instead of Lt Governor,” he said.
Omar referred to the speech of Sunil Sharma defending the use of Public Safety Act (PSA) and said “if you are using PSA then your case is weak…you put me under preventive detention (in the aftermath of the abrogation of Article 370) for six months because there were no charges against me. But it is better to use relevant sections of law against the stone pelters or Over Ground workers who have been booked under PSA.”
He said business rules of the Legislative Assembly have been framed and sent to the Lieutenant Governor for approval to facilitate smooth governance without confusion.
“Until we receive Statehood, it is necessary to establish business rules for clarity. It took some time, but yesterday at 8 pm, we convened a Cabinet meeting and finalised the business rules. They were approved by our Cabinet,” he said.
He further said the rules have been submitted to the Lieutenant Governor for approval. “We hope they will be approved,” he added.
Asserting that this step will reduce confusion, he said, “As long as this system is in place, it should operate smoothly without any confusion. Although I view it as temporary, implementing business rules is preferable to reduce confusion.”
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