Omar Says He Will Bat For Better Indo-Pak Relations

KL Report
Srinagar

Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah has reiterated that he will continue his efforts for good Indo-Pak relations and resolution of issues between the two neighbours through peaceful dialogue process.  Speaking to various public meetings in Hanjana, Nowshera (Rajouri) and Mera Mandarian, Akhnoor (Jammu) after inaugurating two bridges, Omar revisited history and talked in detail about the NC-Congress love affair.

“My efforts in this direction would continue”, Omar said adding that he would urge the central leadership to take up the issue of violation of cease-fire with Pakistan to ensure peace and tranquillity on LoC and at borders. People living in border areas have to bear the brunt of these violations and their life, property, agriculture and economic activities get severely hampered.

The bridge at Hajana was completed at a cost of Rs 14.13 crore while Mera Mandarian bridge involved investment of Rs 24.25 crore. Both were laid by JKPCC.

Chief Minister said that the central leadership and the governments in India and Pakistan are only authorities who can sit down and sort-out issues between them amicably. “Those (PDP) who blow their own trumpet in this regard making false claims only exhibit their style of befooling commoners”, Omar said. People in J&K, he said, are politically mature enough to understand that international issues are dealt by the sovereign governments and not by the local party presidents or Chief Ministers.

On the developmental front, Omar said people are best judges. “We do not require creating any hype as the work done by the coalition government on peace and development fronts is before the public speaking louder and clear for our performance”, Omar said. “Our performance and intention to achieve peaceful and prosperous J&K and our remarkable achievements on these fronts have amply imprinted impact all across the state.” Omar said the panchs and sarpanchs voted on basis of the development that coalition had carried out and that fetched the ruling alliance a clean sweep on four seats.

Aware that he was speaking in the apparently Congress influenced areas, Omar talked in detaul about the NC-Congress bonhomie. He said that the relations between NC and Congress are since the time of Sheikh Sahib and Jawaharlal.

“These grew further during Sheikh Sahib and Indira Ji’s period and Rajiv Gandhi and Dr Farooq Abdullah’s time, and are further being cemented this time”, Omar said. He said the differences between the two parties never came in the personal relations of the two families. The ideology and policy for good governance and equitable development of all the sections of the society and the regions and sub-regions of the State enshrined by National Conference and Congress in their political agenda are so common and close to each other that Pt Jawaharlal Nehru maintained that formulation of Congress Party in J&K was not needed when Sheikh Sahib was at the helm of affairs in the state after independence.

On the working of NC-Congress coalition government, Omar said that the Council of Ministers rendered their service to the people in its best capacity and worked in tandem to implement public welfare schemes with commitment and carried forward the State towards the goal of peaceful and progressive J&K. “We joined our hands to achieve this target and we are moving towards it amicably and jointly”, he said. “Fighting of elections for MLC seats jointly by NC and Congress has provided very good opportunity to the workers of both the parties to percolate coalition to the grass roots.”

Omar said the coalition has worked hard to create “conducive and palatable atmosphere” in the state. “After a period of more than 20 years we are witnessing tranquil and calm atmosphere in the State for which the coalition government worked hard”, he said. He said he is working for “a financially rich state” which is not depended on Central support for development and growth but has plenty enough to offer support to other states.