Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s Republic Day speech was essentially inspired by the impending parliamentary and legislative elections 2014. As he has completed five years of his Government in office, the Chief Minister made the best use of the opportunity of addressing the people of the State. Instead of indulging in oft-repeated words that are said by political leadership in the context of the important day, he rightly chose to summarize very lucidly many achievements made by the State during past five years. In the first place he exhorted people to come out in large possible numbers and make most judicious use of their valuable vote. Nobody can fault him when he says that the gun has not done any good to the people rather it has brought untold suffering and hardships. The State has lagged behind in its programme for development. If past two decades had not seen so much of turmoil and uncertainty, the State would have taken big strides towards development. That is why he exhorted people to shun violence and create atmosphere of peace and stability so that important developmental activities can be pursued without distraction.
We have seen that during past two decades, separatists and secessionists have been giving call for boycott of elections for one or the other reasons. During previous Assembly and parliamentary elections, political leaders who were contesting the elections frankly and sincerely told their audience everywhere that the election was for development and economic improvement of the State. Unfortunately our State is backward owing to various reasons. But strikes and hartal calls given day in and day out and on flimsy issues have done more harm than good to the State. Therefore, the time has come when gun has to be laid aside and positive role in reconstruction of the State has to be played.
The Chief Minister said that the year 2014 was significant for many reasons. There has been lot of political activity in the country and the State during the year 2013. People are impatiently waiting for the parliamentary elections as that will have far reaching impact on the Indian polity and our State as well. As integral part of the Indian Union, J&K is naturally very much interested in keeping a track of things and waiting in wings to see who comes to power and how it can make renewed alignment with the party that comes to power in the centre. He rightly did not touch on national politics and the fierce election campaign that has been unleashed by the mainstream political parties. He confined himself to the achievements of his Government during past five years.
Omar Abdullah reminded people that during past five years he had been regularly impressing upon the national leadership that we needed to talk to Pakistan and find a way of resolving Kashmir issue. He said that he firmly believed that bilateral dialogue conducted in peaceful atmosphere would yield positive result and the people of the State who have been suffering owing to rivalry between India and Pakistan wanted relief and riddance from gun culture.
The Chief Minister, while summarizing the achievements was not boasting but what he said is the ground reality. His Government took various steps to streamline the administration or insulating it against corruption, bribery and scams. Steps were also taken for streamlining the administration to bring to it transparency and efficiency. His government made strenuous efforts to provide means of subsistence, electricity, water, roads, bridges, communication facilities to larger number of people of the State. About one lakh youth of the State were provided with jobs in various departments of the Government. In the sectors of PDD, necessary edifice was laid to produce 9000 MWs of electricity during next eight years. Reminding the people that he had taken steps to streamline administration, he rightly mentioned putting Public Services Guarantee Act (PSGA) in place, reconstructing Accountability Commission, Right to Information Commission, Vigilance Commission etc. Touching on the issue of Kashmiri Pandit migrants, he said that his Government was seized of the issue and that in pursuit of the PM’s Package 1500 Kashmir Pandit migrant youth were provided with employment and the process continues. He disclosed that he had approached the Central Government with a comprehensive rehabilitation scheme for the displaced Kashmiri Pandits. He also touched on the subject of rehabilitation of Kashmiri youth who wanted to come back to Kashmir after they had crossed over to PoK for training in militancy but had now laid down the gun. 380 former militants have been rehabilitated in Kashmir after they returned from PoK. The State Government would consider these cases with sympathy and; provide them the opportunity of rejoining the mainstream.
Chief Minister’s address was convincing and loaded with logic and reason so much so that even his adversaries had nothing which they could make a bone of contention. He would be a happier man if India and Pakistan seriously and sincerely continued their dialogue to find a solution to the vexed question of Kashmir. But at the same time, time and tide wait for no man and J&K State cannot remain complacent about reacting to unavoidable developmental activities especially when there is semblance of peace and stability now in the State.
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