In his first press conference after the Durbar move, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has made an extensive appraisal of his governments achievements during the past three years of his tenure in general but of the previous year in particular. It is customary on the part of Chief Ministers to give a summation of what the Government has done in recent past in order to keep the people informed of broad features of government’s policy in regard to more important and pressing issues. He has reiterated his Government’s urge for a peaceful settlement of Kashmir problem’s internal and external dimension. Of course as regards the latter, the MEA is the proper forum where things are talked with a foreign country. There is hardly any need to re-assure the people that the State Government, keeping in view its burning desire for speeding up developmental programmes, it wants peace and stability in the State. Since Pakistan-based terrorist organizations have made a pledge of carrying fire and brimstone to the valley, Omar Abdullah is duly perturbed about it. After all it impinges on the plans and projects that lead the state on to the desired goal of development. The two countries are steadily inching forward in their bilateral talks and the stalemate of many decades will take its time to be broken. Omar’s impatience with this aspect, though we understand it, but is rather overstating the things. We have to realize that we are to deal with a country whose mindset knows nothing about us except hatred. We would appreciate Omar reaching out to his constituency on this critical issue rather than bringing all the pressure on central leadership. It is his and his party’s business to mould the opinion of the masses of people. A great public leader should have the capacity of making the mass mentality separate reason from emotion. It is in that area that the Chief Minister and his party have to act vigorously.
Panchayat elections have reassured everybody in the State that Omar Abdullah Government is seriously and honestly intending to give effect to devolution of powers to the grass roots level. This is indeed a painful experience for old diehards to give up power, partly or wholly, and let people decide their fate in most of things. But as we learn, militants are issuing threats to the elected Sar Panches and other members of panchayat because in this process, militancy finds the space shrinking for them. Therefore the constitutional aspect of devolution of powers on Panchayat, financial safeguard to them and personal security to the elected members are crucial issues that must be addressed. Elections to local bodies are in the pipeline and these must be speeded up to give teeth to the concept of devolution of powers.
On the issue of return and rehabilitation of Kashmiri migrants, the Chief Minister has not underscored any exclusive measure of his Government to move a step out of NC’s known parameters of return and rehabilitation of the migrated community. All that he has been doing in this regard is to ritualistically intone the mantra of the PM’s Package of 2008 despite the fact that the migrated community has, at a number of occasions, said that the package addresses only the economic aspect of the issue whereas their case is essentially of political nature. Their contention is that if in the eyes of Omar, Kashmir is a political issue, therefore by same analogy theirs undoubtedly is a political issue and even more. In absence of positive input from the State Government, the issue of return and rehabilitation may not make any significant headway in its present form. The Government needs to think of options that are viable and take care of the interests of all stakeholders. A futuristic vision of composite Kashmirian society has to be adopted. Socialization of two communities needs to be prioritized over other aspects of the question.
Omar is confident that his Government has adopted the right course in bringing home to authorities that AFSPA has to be withdrawn. The good thing is that he is handling this ticklish issue with care and consideration seeking consensus of opinion at various levels in Srinagar and in New Delhi. His address to the NCTC in New Delhi recently reflects his views on security aspects and in his capacity as Chief Minister he has made very responsible and thoughtful comment that AFSPA could be withdrawn from some of the areas identified as peaceful and devoid of militancy. The issue of withdrawal is being discussed at proper quarters and hopefully it will be resolved amicably in near future. Omar’s appraisal of achievements made or still in the pipeline generates the hope that given normal conditions, this summer will see the Government taking bigger strides in the direction of State’s development and progress.
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