Ex-CM accuses Delhi of failing to uphold commitment
Former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today said the state’s accession to India was conditional and accused New Delhi of failing to uphold its commitment.
He criticised Mehbooba Mufti and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of doublespeak on government formation and blamed her party’s 10-month rule for pushing the state into renewed turmoil.
The National Conference working president was speaking at a commemorative event for party leader Sheikh Nazir at the party’s headquarters.
His speech, which was critical of New Delhi, came at a time when the secessionist sentiment was on the rise in the region.
“Kashmir’s accession to India was based on conditions. You cannot compare us with Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu or West Bengal,” Omar said.
“How is it justified that we remain committed to our position and New Delhi changes its position? The state flag is our identity and who are you to snatch it from us?” he said.
Omar said it was the responsibility of the Centre to uphold the conditions of accession. “It was the responsibility of the Centre to uphold its conditions, but it has failed to do so. That is why the situation in the state has deteriorated to this level,” he said.
The former Chief Minister said a solution to the Kashmir issue was political and not in economics. “It was never an issue of money. The basic issue of Jammu and Kashmir is a political issue,” he said.
Omar’s stiffened position against New Delhi was in contrast to his relationship with the Centre during the 2010 agitation, when he requested central forces and pressed the Army into Srinagar to quell protests.
The former Chief Minister lashed out at the PDP for sacrificing its political agenda. “Mehbooba Mufti sacrificed her party’s political agenda and then expected praise from people, but it will not happen,” he said. “The Centre has a misunderstanding that money will solve the issues here,” Omar said.
The National Conference leader questioned the PDP over delay in government formation and said Mehbooba was “neither capable nor prepared to do justice with the responsibility” of leading the state.
“While the PDP and BJP continue to profess their unquestionable allegiance to each other and have adequate numbers, their refusal to form the government is strange,” he said.
During Omar’s tenure, more than 120 civilians were killed in police and paramilitary firing in the 2010 summer agitation. He said the 10-month PDP-BJP rule had diminished hopes in the region.
“Today, the situation is such that even a militant’s body is not handed over to locals. We did many mistakes, but never took the situation to the extent that a militant was to be secretly buried. It is the result of the past 10 months,” he said.
