Mendhar: Former Chief Minister and National Conference working president Omar Abdullah on Monday recalled former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee’s “golden words” that friends can be changed but not the neighbours remains relevant in the sub-continent and pitched for generating conducive atmosphere to restart Indo-Pak dialogue to herald a new era of good neighbourly relations.
“Both India and Pakistan will have to make a new beginning to recreate mutual trust and understanding, imperative for talks”, Omar said in Mendhar, close to LoC, during the second leg of his five-day tour of Poonch-Rajouri belt, adding that National Conference is consistent in its stand on thaw in the Indo-Pak relations, primarily for welfare and well-being of the border dwellers and overall peace in the region, as Jammu and Kashmir has been a major sufferer of hostilities.
In Vajpayee’s words, he said, there is need to shed the baggage of the past and start a new era of trust, understanding and eventually friendship.
He said wars have benefitted none, and it is only peace that can lead the neighbourly countries to peace, progress and development.
Omar said there has been no return of fire-arm between India and China despite over two-month standoff in Dokhlam but the borders with Pakistan are roaring with shells, making residents of the forward areas vulnerable. In this context he referred to the yesterday’s shelling in which four persons sustained injuries and said the people along International Border and Line of Control have been experiencing nightmarish experiences whenever guns roar from across and their plight cannot be felt in New Delhi or television studios that keep on indulging in jingoism.
“It is the border dwellers of Jammu and Kashmir who are facing the brunt of shelling, firing and frequent ceasefire violations”, he maintained and wished their plight to echo from television studios rather than war yells.
He touched many subjects during his 45-minute address to workers and functionaries that included attempts to tinker with Article 35A, PDP-BJP tie-up, failure of the coalition dispensation on all fronts, growing unemployment and developmental paralysis across the state.
Recalling the days of government formation after the fractured 2014 mandate, Omar said National Conference had offered unconditional support to Mufti Mohammed Sayeed, primarily for keeping the BJP away, as its intentions vis-a-vis Jammu and Kashmir were well known, and also to carry forward the state’s odyssey to normalcy and development, strong edifice for which had been laid during his government.
“We had made it clear to support the PDP from outside along with Congress and others, as long as the larger interests of the state and welfare of the people of all the three regions of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh were concerned”, he said, adding that the late Mufti Mohammed Sayeed had talked about getting more central funds, jobs and other facilities from the Centre by aligning with the BJP.
“Now, the PDP owes an explanation to the people of Jammu and Kashmir as to what has been achieved during the past over three years”, he asked while expressing concern over growing unemployment, administrative-developmental inertia and policy paralysis. In fact, he said, the state has been brought to an unprecedented passé where the people are suffering and the insensitive dispensation is taking vicarious pleasure in their miseries. He blamed the coalition partners for indulging in nepotism in respect of government jobs, adding that all the defeated candidates have been rehabilitated as Vice Chairpersons with attractive perks and privileges. “This is like adding salt to the wounds of unemployed, who feel betrayed,” he said.
Omar also questioned the wisdom in implementing Food Security Act, saying the rationed population has been made to run helter-skelter for standard supplies of foodgrains as per their requirements. The levy sugar quota has been discontinued and the supply position of other commodities is quite scarce. He said his government had strongly opposed the implementation of this Act, as this was not in the interests of the poor people.
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