PM Modi’s package will not address political issues in J&K: Omar Abdullah
Criticizing that there was "nothing new" in Prime Minister's speech, Omar said that Modi did not have to come to announce Rs 80,000-crore J&K package.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi (left) and former J&K CM Omar Abdullah (right)
Former chief minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday said that the people of J&K were “disappointed” as the Prime Minister did not talk what they wanted to hear at the rally and the announcement of financial package “would not address the political issues” of the state.
Criticizing that there was “nothing new” in Prime Minister’s speech, Omar said that Modi did not have to come to announce Rs 80,000-crore J&K package.
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“We are disappointed. We were prepared for a historic visit which did not happen. We did not get to hear what we wanted to hear. Perhaps we should not have attached too many hopes (with Modi’s visit),” Omar told reporters.
Omar said that economic packages will not resolve the political issue of Jammu and Kashmir as it had not done in the past.
“The packages are good. I said this much to Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi at the Anantnag rally that Jammu and Kashmir is a political issue which needs a political solution. There is perhaps no Chief Minister since Bakshi Ghulam Mohammad who has not got package (from the Centre),” he said.
The working president of opposition National Conference said the ruling PDP-BJP combine had raised the hopes about the Prime Minister’s visit with one of the PDP ministers terming it crucial for the forthcoming generations of Kashmir.
“The way we were prepared and what we got (after the visit) was akin to making a mountain out of molehill,” he said.
He said there was nothing new in Prime Minister’s speech at the rally.
“I regret that we were not waiting for the package as much as we were for a new political thinking,” he said.
The NC leader said that Modi invoked former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s ‘Insaniyat, Jamhooriyat and Kashmiriyat’ during his speech to address the political issues of Kashmir.
“Vajpayee used the Srinagar platform in a difficult situation to reach out to Pakistan and start a dialogue process with the Hurriyat Conference.
“Coming here, the Prime Minister (Modi) said he does not need lessons from anyone. Before him, (Chief Minister) Mufti Mohammad Sayeed talked about starting dialogue. The PM did not listen to Mufti Sahib. What is Mufti Sahib doing when his words did not stand for few minutes? Where is the agenda of alliance (of PDP and BJP)?” he asked.
Omar said he was expecting renewal of talks with Pakistan and the alienated sections of the society but a “good opportunity has been lost”.
Referring to Prime Minister’s observation on panchayat elections, Omar said democracy should not be reduced to panchayat elections.
“We also held panchayat elections…we also spend money but the basic issue has not been resolved,” he said.
Omar said the Prime Minister did not need to come here to announce the package as it could have been done from anywhere.
“He did not have to come here to announce the package. We did not need to be locked inside and hundreds need not be detained,” he added.
Omar said the PM’s visit was a step backwards in resolving the political issue of Jammu and Kashmir.
“Vajpayee’s context (in 2003) was about dialogue with Pakistan and alienation sections. The issue will not be resolved by playing a cricket match here.
“If this is what we had to go through for a rally, imagine what we will have to go through for a cricket match,” Omar said referring to stringent security arrangements today.
The Prime Minister could have broken silence over the hate attacks and atmosphere of intolerance in the country, he said.
“We wanted to hear about insaniyat and where was it when our youth was burnt alive in Udhampur. Where was insaniyat after Dadri and Himachal (lynchings). To talk about democracy when hundreds were detained ahead of the rally…when armed (RSS) rally was allowed in Jammu while force was used to disperse peaceful procession in Kashmir.
“Kashmiriyat we saw in the Assembly when Engineer Rashid was attacked (by BJP MLAs over his beef party),” he added.
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