Throwing an open challenge to People’s Democratic Party patron and former Chief Minster Mufti Mohammad Syed to make a public commitment that he would ensure the settlement of the Kashmir dispute within one year, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Saturday said that he is willing to resign and extend support of all his 28 legislators to Mufti in order to reach his what he called the ‘magical 40 seat ‘mark for the settlement of Kashmir issue. “He has been saying for a while now that give me 40 seats I’ll settle the issue, let me offer my all 28 MLA’s to him and see what this man can do,” Omar said scornfully during a public address here. “You have 21 MLAs; I have 28 which make the aggregate number to 50. Go and solve the Kashmir issue within one year, I assure you from this land of Pattan that I will straight way drive to Governor House and put in my papers, promised Omar in an obvious reference to PDP patron Mufti Mohammad Syed though without directly naming him. He, however, said that the issue has been lingering since the rule of Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah and wished that the day should come soon when the Kashmiris could have a sigh of relief and see the issue settled down once for all. The chief minister, however, quickly added that he (Mufti) has been reluctant to even acknowledge Pakistan’s role in the issue. “When both the countries have conceded that Kashmir is an issue, why can’t this man afford to open the history books and refresh his mind? I want to ask him to go through the Shimla, Lahore , Agra and all other agreements in which both the countries haven agreed to sort out all issues including Kashmir through dialogue,“ Omar said. “On one side you are advocating of introducing Pakistani currency in Kashmir, self-rule and on the other side you don’t recognise Pakistan as a party to the issue,“ he added The Chief Minster also castigated separatists for preaching people not to participate in electoral politics and said that people can’t wait for their basic facilities till the settlement of the issue. Without naming any one, Omar said, “You are saying tom stay away from elections, but do you realise that people need medical facility, education for their children, roads, bridges and other facilities. No one can afford to wait for these facilities till the issue is resolved.” The Chief Minister said that some elements do not want India and Pakistan to talk. “They want the burning issues to remain burning for their vested interests”, he said asserting that friendly ties between the two neighbour have direct bearing on the peace and development situation in Jammu and Kashmir and the people of the State are eager to see the two countries talking amicably and in a conducive atmosphere to resolve all issues including Sechien, Sircreck, Kashmir, etc. Omar said that despite the fact that his party had not included Kashmir issue in its 2008 Election Manifesto, yet the party vehemently highlighted the need for recognizing the political genesis of Kashmir issue and resolving it politically through the process of internal and external dialogues. “We will continue to bat for it and facilitate the dialogue”, he said and asked the people to strengthen National Conference at all ranks to see Jammu and Kashmir moving forward in the direction of political stability and holistic development.
Posted on: Sun, 01 Sep 2013 03:14:38 +0000
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