Nishikant Khajuria
JAMMU, Sept 28: In an unprecedented development widening fissures between the ruling coalition partners, senior Congress leader and the Minister for PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control Sham Lal Sharma today charged the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah with creating uncertainty by challenging accession of Jammu and Kashmir with the Indian Union.
“What does the Chief Minister want to convey by making statements on every third day that accession of J&K with India does not mean merger with the Union”? he asked while delivering hard hitting speech in an interaction function, organized by young and senior Lawyers of Jammu, here this evening.
Mr Sharma said that such controversial and damaging statements over the status of Kashmir despite being in Government do not serve any purpose towards resolution of the problem but only create uncertainty in the trouble torn State, encourage anti-nationals, separatists, Pakistan and invite our enemy that we are weak.
Maintaining that there was no dispute over the integration of J&K with Indian Union, after the agreements of 1947, 1953 and finally Indira-Sheikh Accord of 1975, the Congress minister reminded his Chief Minister that the latter had himself taken oath of Indian Constituency for assuming office.
“If there is dispute over accession and merger, then why do you take oath of Indian Constitution for contesting elections and then getting elected? Why are you staying in the Government and for what”? Sham Lal questioned and dared the Chief Minister to quit the office if the latter had reservations over status of J&K.
Pertinent to mention that Omar Abdullah during his meeting with a European Union delegation two days back, had reportedly said that the accession of J&K did not mean merger with the Indian Union.
Justifying his party’s stand against Greater Autonomy recommendation by Sagheer Committee report on Centre-State relations, the Congress minister stressed that changing of nomenclature from Chief Minister to Prime Minister would not empower J&K.
“Sagheer Report recommends Regional Development Councils also for empowerment of people at grass root level but we (coalition Government) are not ready to hold civic body elections and give powers to Panchayats,” Sham Lal said and claimed that even Kashmiris were not supportive of Autonomy.
Stressing for unity for the cause of Jammu, the Congress leader did not spare even his own party for not fulfilling the promises made in its Assembly election manifesto.
“Five senior leaders of our party had signed 2002 election manifesto promising restructuring of constitution for regional and sub-regional council besides addressing the issues of refugees but nothing has been done in this regard,” he admitted and rued that there was an adhoc approach by the elected representatives who were not performing their duties.
Stating that there was a leadereship vacuum in Jammu, Mr Sharma exhorted people to unite and sacrifice their petty personal interests for greater cause of the region. “We are not against Kashmir but only want our due share, which has so far been denied to us,” he said while pointing towards irregular distribution of Rs 250 crore Special Task Force fund for J&K.
“Being in Government, we have certain limitation. Politicians are unaware of subjectivity and responsibilities. In this respect we need to learn from Kashmiris. Jammu will not progress with slogans but action,” he said and asked the Jammu people, particularly intelligentsia to guide the elected representatives.
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