Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 14: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today asked Pakistan to restore peace along the border and create conducive atmosphere for starting a dialogue process with India to address all issues.
“It is the talking process which can melt the ice and help find solution to all matters,” Omar said in his Independence Day message.
The Chief Minister reiterated his stand on Jammu and Kashmir’s political issues calling for a political approach to resolve these across the table amicably.
“Power or gun has never been and will never be instrumental to resolve problems,” he said.
Omar also called for sustained dialogue between the Centre and the separatists, saying his Government would work as an active facilitator in this regard.
He said those who have so far shunned the practice of putting their viewpoints across the table should come for dialogue.
Omar said democracy in India is so strong that their viewpoints would be heard in detail and earnestly.
“You can explain your viewpoint across the table openly and candidly,” he said apparently referring to the separatist leaders, adding his Government would facilitate all such moves.
Omar said it is worrisome that some people in the society get easily carried away by rumours and react violently, without even ascertaining the truth.
“This trend in the society is of serious concern,” Omar said in his Independence Day message.
The Chief Minister termed this trend as dangerous and detrimental to the progress and welfare of the State.
“Heeding to rumours and resorting to violence results in the loss of precious human lives and property, besides disturbance in peace,” he said.
Condemning loss of life and property in the clashes in Kishtwar and other parts of Jammu division, Omar sought to remind the people of pluralistic ethos of the State and said Jammu and Kashmir has been abode of different religions, faiths, cultures, languages and ethnic groups.
He said people have together nurtured communal harmony and brotherhood since ages.
Some elements, that thrive on dividing the society for vested interests in the name of religion, region and caste, attempt to create tension between different sections of the society, disturb peace and tranquillity and create mistress in the minds of people, he said.
“They do this just to polarise the society for their self ends,” he added.
Omar also referred to the sectarian clashes in parts of Budgam, and the Gool incident saying that rumours and reactions without ascertaining the truth were the reason for escalation of tension in both the cases.
He said Government will take all measures to ensure justice to the people.
The Chief appealed to the public to rise to the occasion and exhibit their highest faith in State’s pluralistic character.
He said working together and strengthening bonds of amity between various sections is the right reply to those who want to wedge the society in the name of religion and other counts.
“You have to rise to the occasion and defeat the designs of these elements by showing your unity, and sidelining the elements responsible for creating tension between various sections of the society,” he said.
“This should be our resolve and message to all on the auspicious occasion of Independence Day,” he emphasised.
The Chief Minister also spoke about female foeticide, and said this evil has silently crept in the society and should be of the utmost concern for one and all.
“Nothing can be more heinous and inhuman than killing female baby in the womb of the mother,” he said.
Omar referred to a saying of Prophet Muhammad, which maintains that any person who nurtures a girl child will get Jannat (Heaven) in reward.
He appealed the civil society, religious leaders, social workers and others to play their important role in making people aware of the dangerous consequences of this inhuman act.
The Chief Minister also referred to another social evil of drug addiction among the youth, and said the menace is engulfing them under its clutches.
“It has been observed that the tentacles of drug addiction is bringing youth under its grip and is deeply penetrating in the vitals of the society,” he said.
Omar said he wants to make the State financially self-sufficient, so that all development projects of important public concern can be funded indigenously, and economy and employment generation catapulted.
He said his Government has already laid edifice to achieve this stupendous goal by harnessing State’s power resources.
Omar said within next few years “we are going to produce 9000 MW of power in the State, that will end power crisis and give strength to our economy.”
He said Government is harnessing resources in agriculture, tourism, horticulture, handicrafts, industries and other sectors to make the State financially self reliant, so that it needs not to rely on Central funds for every project.
Referring to schemes like Umeed, Udan, Himayat and SKEWPY, the Chief Minister said his Government has taken various initiatives to empower youth and women. He ended his speech with the couplets
Itna karo ki seep faraham karo hamain,
Qatrey baney gey kisey gowher hum per chood do
[You only do one thing to provide us oysters.
How we would turn rain drops into pearls, leave it to us]
Tum saath chaloo, saath chaloo, saath hi chaloo
Asaan kisey ho safar hum per chood do
[Let you continue to accompany us in the march.
How we make the travel easy, leave it to us]
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