Indo-Pak friendship beneficial for J&K, SA: Omar

Fayaz Bukhari 

‘Locals being sidelined from sand extraction’

Former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today said that Indo-Pak friendship is not only beneficial for Jammu and Kashmir but entire South Asia.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a gathering of party workers at party office Mujahid Manzil, in Pulwama, Omar said: “We have always said that the friendship of these two countries is going to be beneficial not only for J&K but for the entire South Asia. It is good to see that both the countries, rather than threatening each other, are now talking of friendship”.

Omar said that both the countries should sit across the table and discuss all issues. “There is a long way to go as we have come to know that the secret talks have taken place. We want that soon, both the countries should sit together at one table and talk on all the issues”, he said.

“There is no dearth of issues, be it the issue of J&K or any other issue. We want that there should be a dialogue to address all the issues between the two counties”, he added.

Earlier while addressing the rally, the NC leader said that the party has been a strong votary of greater India-Pakistan bonhomie knowing that such a step, if endured positively and sincerely, will have a positive impact on the lives of people of Jammu and Kashmir and the entire region as well.

“We have all along been reminding the ruling party the extent to which their founding member Late Vajpayeeji went in fostering good relations with our neighboring country. It was Vajpayee who had said that friends can be changed not neighbors. NC has all along maintained that there is no substitute to dialogue, we hope and pray that this new opportunity of friendship is not lost”, he said.

“Unfortunately our repeated pleas for dialogue and peace making were made a point of ridicule by the ruling party but finally our stands is vindicated in wake of the fresh diplomatic outreach in terms of DGMO level talks and IWT meeting between the two nations. We believe that PM Modi’s letter to his Pakistani counterpart is a step in the right direction. I hope that the step further helps in building an environment of trust,” he said.

Referring to the August 5, 2019 measures, he said the measures were undertaken at the pretext of ushering in development in Jammu and Kashmir. He added the State was downgraded, divided and sheared off its Constitutional status in the non-appearance of its elected leaders, who, he said, were caged for months altogether both at in-house and out-house confinement centers to ensure that the centre had a free walk in bulldozing the State’s political identity and other Constitutional safeguards.

“The measures were undertaken at the pretext of flooding the region with investment, bringing about more employment and development. But so far the promised flood of investment, development, infra-up gradation is nowhere visible on ground. What is it that has been achieved by GoI? Contrary to it the entire region has been put on the path of terminal alienation and dismemberment. The striking feature of the Kashmir post August 5, 2019 has been marked by administrative inertia, development deficit, crumbling economy and failure of the administration even to ensure basic amenities like water, electricity and connectivity to people. All the promises which were made to people in the run up for unilateral Measures of August 5 have deflated. The Government has lost its plot. The only thing that the GoI has been able to achieve is to put the entire region on the path of terminal alienation,” he added.

Omar said that it was told that peace will prevail in the region post nullification of the State’s Constitutional status but the prevailing situation doesn’t attest to what was being claimed.

He said after August 5, 2019 the people of Jammu and Kashmir have been put on the path of disenfranchisement. “The measures like sidelining locals from sand extraction give a picture of discrimination and mortification that the people of J&K are facing”, he said.

The NC leader said that those who speak against the Central Government are being summoned by the Enforcement Directorate. “From J&K to Tamil Nadu and from Assam to Gujarat, Mehbooba Mufti is neither the first leader (to be summoned by the ED), nor is she going to be the last leader (to be summoned by the ED). For the last 6-8 years, those leaders who have been opposing the Central Government are being made to pay the price by being subjected to summons etc from these agencies”, he said.

Omar said that the National Conference is a party of sacrifices and it’s workers have proved it braving even the toughest changes in the past.

He said that the NC has braved toughest challenges in the past and will continue to face such challenges in future also. “Efforts to dismantle the party have failed in the past and won’t succeed in future also”, he added.

Omar said that the flag of National Conference is red because of the sacrifices of it’s workers. “National Conference has represented the sentiments and aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir in past and will continue to do so in future also”, she said.

Courtesy: The Daily Excelsior: 28th March, 2021