Rehabilitation of militants a sensitive issue: Omar

Omar was addressing a farmers’ rally in Anantnag town,55 kms from here,in south Kashmir on Tuesday.

He said with improvement in the security situation in Kashmir Valley,the government took necessary steps by removing 25 bunkers from Srinagar city and shifting CRPF battalions.

“Similar steps will be taken in Anantnag as well as in other towns in view of the fast improvement in the security situation,” he said.

“Our government will work for sadak (road),paani (water) and bijli (electricity) and at the same time strive for a solution to the Jammu and Kashmir issue,” he said.

Omar said everyone is the UPA government is serious to find a solution to the Kashmir issue and Union Home Minister P Chidambaram himself said in Parliament that accession of Kashmir to India was made under unique circumstances and the solution is also required to be unique.

“People should remember the day when nobody was speaking about the issue of Jammu and Kashmir,” Omar said,adding,it was he who spoke on the issue in the presence of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi in Anantnag in 2009.

The government’s decision to rehabilitate militants who had crossed the LoC has drawn flak from opposition parties,especially BJP,which has expressed the apprehension that it would not augur well for the state’s security.

The Chief Minister said his government will actively work to improve the conditions of farmers,who constitute 60 per cent of the state’s population,and consider their demand for abolishing VAT on agriculture tools and other related items.

“My government has decided to involve farmers into budget discussions so that agriculture and farmer friendly budget is presented in the Assembly session,” he said.

“We can realise the vision of a new and prosperous Kashmir only if we are able to strengthen our farmers,who are the backbone of our society,” Omar said.