Excelsior Correspondent
KANIR, July 7: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today lashed out at the Centre for its failure to address political issues of Jammu and Kashmir and considering that selection of a Kashmiri youth in national squad would resolve the basic issues.
In a hard hitting criticism of the Centre Government, headed by the Congress, which was a coalition partner with Omar’s National Conference in the State, the Chief Minister said: “those sitting in Delhi and considering that participation of people of the State in Panchayat elections, qualifying of IAS and other All India Competitive Exams by Kashmiris or selection of a local youth (Parvez Rasool) in Indian cricket team would solve basic political issues, are wrong.
“This kind of mindset is unfortunate and untrue,” Omar said addressing a public meeting at this village falling under Charar-e-Sharief Assembly constituency.
Taking another dig at the Centre for its failure to take follow up action on the report of Interlocutors, Omar said the Interlocutors had held a series of meetings with stakeholders and inter-acted with 5000 people representing different shades of opinion and finalised a report.
Pointing out that it was the Government of India, which had appointed the Interlocutors to look into political problems of the State and suggest a viable solution, the Chief Minister said: “the Centre had to work out a political solution to the issue. Political and financial autonomy of the State is the cherished ideology and goal of National Conference and it will continuously work to achieve it”.
Asking the Centre not to test the patience and restrain of the people of Kashmir or take anger of Kashmiris and people in the Valley for granted, Omar said the people in Kashmir may exhibit restrain and patience over various “provocations” like hanging of Afzal Guru without informing his family, killing of two innocent youth in Markundal recently and many such provocations but this doesn’t mean that their patience will always be taken for granted.
Cautioning the Centre against adopting this kind of approach, the Chief Minister said: “I want to tell them that the anger of Kashmiris and peace in the Valley can’t be taken for granted. Though the people of Jammu and Kashmir particularly those living in the Valley have always chosen peace against disturbance, yet you can’t take them for granted forever”.
He made it clear that permanent peace and tranquility in the State is directly proportionate to resolution of basic political issues confronting the State.
Omar said that `K-issue’ is not an issue of money or gun but of political genesis needing political solution. He cautioned the Centre for believing that the anger of Kashmiri people would not boil beyond a certain limit. He said “some friends in New Delhi” have developed misconception and they assume that peace in Kashmir if permanent.
The Chief Minister said that he has time and again emphasized the need of addressing K-issue through the process of dialogue adding that he reiterates this need once again today from Charar-e-Sharief. He underscored the importance of settling this issue amicably and peacefully through the process of dialogue.
“We have created a congenial atmosphere of dialogue and there are positive signals of peace and good relations from Pakistan”, he said and stressed on restoration of purposeful dialogue in this regard. He said the status of relations between India and Pakistan had always effect on the situation in Jammu and Kashmir. “We want relations between the two neighbours be friendly and issues are settled peacefully across the table”, he added.
Omar said his endeavour would be for peaceful, progressive and politically and financially autonomous State where the people will relish justice, equality and an atmosphere of peace and brotherhood, and where youth will realize their dream of prosperity and welfare.
The Chief Minister said that he is not of that grain, who would ask the people to wait till the big political issues are settled. “Bigger issues of bigger political implications are addressed at bigger stages”, he said and added that the economic and development issues have to be settled on local stages and these cannot wait till the resolution of bigger issues.
“As the Chief Minister of a coalition Government, I have at one hand worked for facilitating resolution of political issues and on the other to reach out the people in every part of the State for development needs”, he said and added that his this endeavour will continue.
Omar said that his vision to make Jammu and Kashmir financially self-reliant and politically autonomous is being addressed under a two-pronged strategy. He said the financial autonomy of the State can be achieved by achieving self-sufficiency in power generation.
“My government has laid a strong edifice for this stupendous goal”. He said during next some years the power production in the State would go up from present over 2000 MWs to 9000 MWs. “This would enable the State to not only meet its all electricity requirement but sell the surplus to other States of the Country”.
The Chief Minister said that he had dreamt to make the State financially so strong that it would one day ask the Planning Commission of India to take some grants from Jammu and Kashmir for other States rather than pleading time and again for financial support for its development purpose.
“This dream could be realized only when we harness the 20,000 MWs of power from our rivers and become financially autonomous. I have launched a gigantic programme in this direction and the day will come when the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, who so he may be, has not to go to Planning Commission of India and pray for grants and financial assistance”, he said and referred to the mega, small and micro power projects launched in the State during the last four and a half years tenure of his government.
The Chief Minister announced a Mini Hydro Power Project of 22 MWs up stream Branwar Mini Hydel Project in the Charar-e-Sharief. He also announced another Receiving Station at Pakharpora as also the bifurcation of Electric Division Budgam to cater to the needs of all areas of Budgam District smoothly. He gave nod to a bore-well for maintenance of Kanir Park to make it a beautiful visiting spot for locals and visitors.
The Receiving Station Kanir inaugurated by the Chief Minister has been completed in 2 years time at a cost of about Rs. 2 crores. It will feed the areas of Kanir, Zoohama, Kralwani, Borwa, Nowpora, Hushru, Patrigam, Wagam, Kulyech, Dedmaribagh and Porwara. It will benefit a population of about 30,000 souls directly and indirectly.
Speaking on the occasion, Minister for Finance, Abdul Rahim Rather said that abrogation of Article 370 as suggested by some BJP leaders is not possible at all adding that the Article has attained permanent position in the Indian Constitution and has become its part and parcel.
“The Constituent Assembly of Jammu and Kashmir was only authorized to modify this Article but it has kept it in the Constitution as a permanent feature, as such it is not constitutionally possible to abrogate this Article which governs J&K relations with Union of India”, he said.
Mr Rather referred to the innovative initiations of Omar led Government and dwelt in detail about Right to Information Act, Public Service Guarantee Act and empowerment of Panchayats. He said these measures have given powers to people to scan Government functioning at all levels, get delivery of 69 public services in a fixed time frame, be participant in development and planning process at grass roots and help in good governance.
Describing Omar Abdullah ‘Sher-i-Kashmir Sani’ (Second Sher-i-Kashmir), Abdul Rahim Rather said that Omar has inherited all high qualities of public service and vision from Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah and he is emerging as second Sher-i-Kashmir on the political spectrum of the country.
He assured full support of the people of his Constituency and the State to Omar Abdullah in his efforts to bring peace and normalcy in the State and resolve political issues.
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