Fayaz Bukhari
Kupwara, Jan 24: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today said that gun has never been solution to any problem and stressed for Indo-Pak talks for resolving the political issue of Jammu and Kashmir.
While addressing a massive gathering at Handwara and Kupwara in the frontier district of Kupwara which has been a major infiltration route for militants and worst hit by militancy since 1989, the Chief Minister said resolutions of political issues of Jammu and Kashmir in accordance with the aspirations of its people can be sought only through talks between India and Pakistan.
Omar said founder of National Conference, Sher-e-Kashmir Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, was offered gun to carry forward his political roadmap of the State but he denied it vehemently saying gun only creates miseries and serves no purpose. He said that it is a universal truth and people of Jammu and Kashmir are witness to it. “The gun has never solved any problem but created numerous ones. The NC all along stood for peaceful settlement of political issues through the process of dialogue. We would continue our endeavour in this regard”, he added.
He said the ceasefire on LoC was due to talks and agreement between India and Pakistan and United Nations Military Observers Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) has no role in it. “Addressing of political issues and finding out solution to these would be achieved only through dialogue process between the two countries. Presence of the UNMOGIP is not required for this breakthrough”, he added.
Omar said that presence of UNMOGIP in the State has been of no use. “We know they remained mute spectators during the militancy and cross LoC firing and shelling.”
While speaking to reporters on the side-lines of the rally, Omar said that all party meeting will be held before the forthcoming Assembly session and Justice Verma committee report will be discussed in it. He said: “I have asked the Law Minister, Saifullah Mir, to study the Justice Verma committee report and it will be accepted and implemented.”
He said that Justice Verma committee recommendations on the Armed Forces Special Powers Act will also be implemented. He said that his Government is working for the gradual withdrawal of the AFSPA from the areas where it was not needed.
While addressing a gathering at Kupwara, the Chief Minister said that his Government’s top priority has been creation of jobs for youth. He said for this all avenues in the Government and private sector are being explored to absorb more and more youth in the services. He said that in next one year around one lakh youth will be provided Government jobs on fast track basis.
He said that elections to Block Development Councils would be held within next two-three months. He said that this will further empower Panchs and Sarpanhs on financial and administrative fronts.
The Chief Minister said that Panchs and Sarpanchs should exercise their powers and they have a vital role to play in development of their respective areas. He said that his Government’s endeavour had been the empowerment of Panchayats in the State. “For this, powers from 14 departments have already been transferred to Panchayat institutions of the State”, he added.
Omar asked the Panchs and Sarpanchs not to be selective about spending funds and concentrate on financial aspects. He asked them to focus on ensuring attendance of teachers in schools, availability of ration at depots, monitoring of Anganwari Centres, status of water and power supply and other basic services to people in their area. “It requires your priority attention to ensure proper functioning of the departments of whose services have been transferred to you”, he told Panchayat members present in the gathering.
The Chief Minister said that he knows the problems of people in backward areas of Kupwara district and hoped the newly inducted ministers from the district will take care of developments and fight for rights of the people of the area.
He said that reshuffle in Cabinet was not an easy decision for him. “I salute patience of people of the district for four years and I ensured their long-pending demand of induction of Legislative members into the State Cabinet is fulfilled,” he said.
The Chief Minister said that Kupwara district has been fortress of National Conference all along. “After Srinagar, Kupwara is a stronghold of NC. People have shown faith in NC time and again. I handed over the important portfolios of provincial president to Nasir to further strengthen the roots of party in backward area of Kupwara”, he added.
Omar praised Choudhary Mohammad Ramzan, Mir Saif-ullah, Kafil-ur-Rehman and Sharief-ud-Din Shariq for nurturing National Conference in this district and upholding its high principles. “I am confident that you would continue to work for upliftment of the people and seek their welfare”, he said.
The Chief Minister said that National Conference has never been power hungry and in fact Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah developed and groomed this party when he was outside power.
“Its workers prefer to work in party and extend their selfless service to people. It is immaterial for them to be a minister or not. Their only goal is public welfare and they always to achieve this target. The strength of National Conference lies in the wholehearted support of its workers”, said Omar.
The Chief Minister said by inducting Choudhary Mohammad Ramzan and Mir Saif-ullah in Cabinet and giving status of Cabinet Minister to Kafil-ur-Rehman, he has fulfilled the cherished desire of the people of Kupwara. He expressed the hope that all the seats from this district would be bagged by National Conference in next general Assembly election.
Taking a dig on the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and its leadership, Omar said that they are deceiving the people of the State on issues by flaring up sentiments. He said that politics of deceit has been their trait. “People are wiser enough to read between the lines and understand this kind of politicking of the PDP”, he added.
The public meetings at both Handwara and Kupwara were also addressed by Minister for Higher Education, Mohammad Akbar Lone, Minister for CAPD, Choudhary Mohammad Ramzan, Minister for Law, Mir Saif-ullah, Parliament Member, Shariefud-Din Shariq, Provincial President NC, Nasir Aslam Wani and District President NC, Qaiser Jamsheed Lone.
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