Tahir Bhat
Jammu
Former chief minister of Jammu & Kashmir Omar Abdullah Tuesday after paying homage to his successor late Mufti Mohammad Sayeed trained his guns and led a scathing attack on Mehbooba Mufti led PDP-BJP Coalition government.
Omar, who is also working president of National Conference was participating in the debate on motion of thanks to the Governor’s address in lower house after the completion of question hour.
“Through Governor’s address, government wants to present its report card,” Omar told the house.
Omar in his speech asked the CM Mehbooba who was silently sitting and listening to the speech of her predecessor, “what did you do in last three years? There was nothing in Governor’s address which could have detailed your work, achievement and vision for the next year.”
He said the situation in the state had drastically deteriorated since the PDP-BJP government assumed power. “The government’s promise of development was nowhere to be seen.”
Castigating government on the issues of development, Omar said the government is busy in inaugurating projects launched by previous government.
“Rambagh-Jehangir Chowk flyover in Srinagar, Vikram Chowk flyover in Jammu, flood rehabilitation programme and many other projects have been started by the previous government, Omar asked government to list projects started by it, both in Kashmir and Jammu.
He raised questions on the failure of the government in addressing the issues of traffic congestion and the purpose of constructing only foot bridges but not the bridges that would ease the traffic jams in Srinagar city.
Reminding Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti of the steps taken by her father for improving power supply in 2002 as Chief Minister of PDP-Congress Coalition government, Omar said “where are the gas turbines used by late Mufti Mohammad Sayeed for maintaining the uninterrupted flow of power supply from 2002-2005”?
Omar in his over 20 minute speech wanted to know about the status power projects, the present government has taken up for resolving the power crisis in the state and alleged that the incumbent government is mentioning about the power projects started by his government after failing to take up the work on construction of even a single power project in the state.
Acknowledging the work done by late Mufti in his first tenure as chief minister, Omar said that in a shot span of three years Congress-PDP coalition government led by Mufti Mohammad Sayeed undoubtedly facilitated the opening of Srinagar-Muzafarabad and Poonch-Rawalakote roads, fast paced the work on Mughal road and improved the power distribution system in the state. “But what the present government did in last three years, negates the achievements of three years of PDP-Congress rule under the leadership of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed.”
Omar said people voted PDP to power on the work done by Mufti government from 2002-2005, and mocked at the government of its ‘surrender’ before the separatists.
Accusing CM Mehbooba Omer for deferring Islamabad parliamentary election, he said “It is for the first time since 1996, the government has failed to conduct by-elections to South Kashmir parliamentary constituency and virtually bowed its head and surrendered its authority before the dictates of the separatist who had called for boycott of the elections.”
Omar lashed out at PDP-BJP government for “missing on ground zero” and ridiculed Mehbooba of “doing same what was being done in his own tenure.”
PDP talked of “battle of Ideas”, “but where are the ideas?” “There is only battle,” he said referring to detention of separatist leadership on Thusrady in view of the strike call. “How many did you get arrested to make the strike fail,” he asked CM.
He asserted that the chair of chief minister is not immune to mistakes and the holder of this chair should have courage to accept the responsibility.
Angry Omar said that when he was the Chief Minister and Kashmir was on boil in 2008 and 2010, he never blamed anybody else for the disaster, but himself as a head of the state.
”I get disturbed and upset when I think of 2010 unrest, only my God knows how I feel,” he said, adding that he never blamed Pakistan for the situation, neither criticised the opposition, nor took action against the officers, but owned the moral responsibility.
He stated that instead of owing the responsibility, the government blamed others, including parents, media, security forces, opposition and victims, except BJP and PDP.
“Why should you talk of Ideas now when Union government is not taking you in to confidence,” he told the house. “They speak in one language and J&K government in another.”
Referring to the prevailing situation in Kashmir, Omar claimed that even ruling party MLA’s were not ready for panchayat polls. Emphasizing that the dialogue is the only way out, he said the Kashmir issue should be resolved through a sustained dialogue with both internal and external stakeholders, an apparent reference to separatists and Pakistan.
While talking about the recent appointment of interlocutor by the central government, He said “the recently announced initiative through a representative of the Government of India should have clarity and seriousness of purpose to restore and solve the Kashmir issue.
Omer urges the government to initiate a sustained, sustainable and comprehensive dialogue process to resolve all outstanding issues.
Omar said, “New Delhi needs to realise that it has to talk to various stakeholders in Jammu and Kashmir and resume the dialogue process with Pakistan if it wants to see normalcy and peace in Kashmir.”
“Kashmir dispute is a political issue and the people of Kashmir will never find peace till this dispute is not politically resolved,” he said.
Omar expressed his grave concern over the distressing situation all around the state. “The system of governance has gone out of gear. There is no accountability. The administrative and developmental process has come to a grinding halt. The heaven on earth has turned into a hell. The work culture has been thrown to Curfews, Hartals and security crackdowns have become the order of the day. There is more uncertainty now than ever before,” Omar said.
You had blamed me of creating one Burhan Wani, how many Burhans have you created in last one and a half years
The most worrying aspect, Omar said remains the unprecedented increase in the number of young, local youth joining militant ranks and it is the first time when local militant become fidayeens.”
“You had blamed me for creating one Burhan Wani, how many Burhans have you created in the last one and a half years,” angry Omar asked CM Mehbooba.
Referring to the recent reports about a Research Scholar of Aligarh Muslim University joining the militant ranks, Omar said the inability of the government in hand-holding of youth is quite obvious.
“Who is responsible for educated youth like Manan wani student of AMU PhD scholar becoming a militant and even security personnel joining the ranks?”
Terming PDP as the party of U-turns, Omer said every single promise made in Agenda of Alliance between ruling PDP-BJP has been broken without any explanations for such U-turns.
Referring to the slogan, “Na Gali se Na Goli se, Kashmir ki samasya Hal hogi gale lagane se”, Omar sought clarifications on the mandate given to Dineshwar Sharma for holding talks and the roadmap set for talks by the Union Government.
Taking jibe over over the contradicted statements of the State and Central Government on the appointment of Dineshwar Sharma, Omar asked whether Sharma is “Special Representative” as claimed by Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti or Central Government Spokesman as claimed by Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s office Jitender Singh or Central Government’s point man on Kashmir as claimed by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh.
Mocking at the government on allowing Dineshwar Sharma to intervene in the routine affairs of the government like the availability of the power, water, rice and health care facilities, Omar said “Dineshwar Sharma tends to be a super chief minister”. He also sought explanations that why contradictions over the talks within or outside the constitution and inclusion of all minor separatists continue to be the points of confusion for the people of the State.
Omar said the “open criticism of the coalition government by the Governor was proof of its failure on all fronts.”
The National Conference leader was referring to Governor N.N. Vohra’s statement during a commemoration function organized on Monday in remembrance of PDP patron, Mufti Sayeed.
Vohra in his speech had said that ‘it seems we are not excessively engaged with the issues concerning our people. We failed to protect our youth.” and added that the “state faces many problems, some of our own doing and some of the others’ contributions”.
We failed to protect our youth
Governor Vohra urged the government to perk up its performance giving the example of erstwhile tenure of late Mufti from 2002-2005.
Omar said the Governor’s statement was an “indictment” against the PDP-BJP collation government, proving its failure on all fronts.
