‘Separatists Should Join Talks, No Al-Qaeda Presence In JK’
MUDDASIR ALI
Srinagar, May 9: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday hoped that Osama killing aftermath would have no impact on the renewed dialogue process between India and Pakistan to resolve outstanding issues including Kashmir. While urging Government of India to speed up the dialogue process, both at the internal and external levels to resolve Kashmir, he asked separatists to join the talks.
“It has taken lot of efforts to put the rail back on track after Mumbai attacks. It would not only be our attempt but demand to ensure that relations (Indo-Pak) remain normal,” Omar told media persons on the opening of civil secretariat here after the annual Durbar Move. If the train, Omar said, gets derailed again, it would be “unfortunate” and will have bad impression on people’s mind.
The Chief Minister said there were some statements from Pakistan that Government of India should not think of any “misadventure.” “I don’t think we are considering any misadventure,” Omar said.
Soon after the killing of Al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden in Abbotabad, Pakistan, Army Chief General V K Singh and Air Force Chief P V Naik had said that Indian armed forces were “competent” to carry out an operation similar to the one conducted by the US. Pakistan had reacted sharply warning India against any Abbottabad-like “misadventure”, saying it would be responded to “very strongly” and could lead to a “terrible catastrophe”.
Responding to a question whether there was any presence of Al-Qaeda in Kashmir, Omar turned it down. He said a “lot of people” have tried to draw parallels on links between the Al-Qaeda, Osama and what has happened in JK, adding Osama has from time to time spoken about Kashmir as his unfinished agenda.
There is no doubt that militancy in JK has external dimension, Omar said. But he said as head of the unified command he was yet to be shown any piece of intelligence that would suggest the link. “I have read reports that the house used by Osama belonged to them (Hizbul Mujahideen) but there is no way to independently verify the veracity of the reports.”
ON DIALOGUE PROCESS AND SEPARATISTS
Omar called for speeding up the dialogue process both at the internal and external fronts. The dialogue at the internal level between the Government of India and state Government should be speeded up and attempts should be made to “widen the circle,” Omar said.
Referring to the attempts to renew Indo-Pak dialogue process, Omar said the state Government was hopeful that it would be “intensified in right direction” and a solution which is acceptable to India, Pakistan and more importantly people of Kashmir, is reached at.
Referring to separatists leaders, Omar said those who have not participated in talks should come forward and join the process. They, Omar said, agree that solution to Kashmir issue is possible only through talks, then remaining out of the process is delaying the solution to the issue.
ON GEELANI
Responding to a question on strike called by Hurriyat Conference (G) chairman on coming Saturday, Omar said if he (Geelani) has some “difference of opinion with me then we can take it up in public forum, without inconvenience to people.”
“He (Geelani) is a senior member of the society and I am sure that he will not like to put people to inconvenience beyond a point.” Omar said if Geelani has “disagreement” on some point with him, he can disagree. “There is no doubt,” he said, “that from time to time Geelani says things I disagree with.”
“This is part of politics. But I will never inconvenience people because of something he (Geelani) has said and if he disagrees with something we both can agree to disagree without inconvenience to people. But my earnest appeal to Geelani would be if he has some difference of opinion with me we can take it up in public forum. We need not to take it up by calling for hartals and strikes because it only brings inconvenience to people,” Omar said.
ON RBI TAKE OVER OF JK BANK ROLE
Omar said to the best of his knowledge, Dr Haseeb Drabu, former chairman of JK Bank, was not sacked. Drabu’s term of office, Omar said, was coming to an end and there was no clear indication from the Government that his term would be extended as he had already got one extension. “Possibly he (Drabu) got better offer from somewhere else,” Omar said.
About RBI taking over the role of JK Bank in the state, Omar said the bank continues to be the property of the state. The only thing that has changed is rather than implementing the over-draft from JK Bank, the Government would be implementing the ‘ways and means position’ of RBI through JK Bank which is again a “special dispensation” created for JK state. Normally, he said, the state would have to implement the ‘ways and means position’ through a bank nominated by RBI. “But looking at our special relation with JK Bank, RBI created special dispensation for us.”
“Over the years the over-draft (OD) had gone up to Rs 2300 crore which is way over the RBI norms. The OD never came down below Rs 2000 crore and as a result we had to pay the interest on Rs 2000 crore OD which we were not able to use,” he said.
Elaborating further, he said the state Government approached GoI and as a result the 13th Finance Commission approved a special grant of Rs 1000 crore and another Rs 1000 crore as loan on low interest rates.
“That will clear our balance sheet off and we will be able to operationalize a more reasonable level of OD through JK Bank, and make available money to the bank to lend it in the market. It is a win-win situation for Government, bank and its customers too,” Omar said. To another query, Omar said: “The proposal for (RBI’s role) was mooted in Drabu’s presence when he was the bank’s Chairman.”
Omar candidly admitted that many development projects including some road projects like Srinagar-Charar-e-Sharief project have got delayed. But the Government, he said, needs a good atmosphere for carrying out the works. “I have not seen Boulevard Road (VIP route around Dal Lake) in such a bad condition. It will be our attempt to try and see that this working season is not wasted.”
On the ongoing tourist season, Omar said state receives tourists every year but “somebody chases them away. We will like not to give hype to tourist influx here this season.”
125 rehabilitation applications cleared
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said that 125 applications have been cleared under the rehabilitation policy to facilitate return of Kashmiri youth who had gone to receive arms training in Pakistan Administered Kashmir (PaK) and are now eager to come back. He said his Government has received 600 to 700 such applications. “The necessary information will flow to the families concerned and youth on how to return,” he said.
(Courtesy : http://greaterkashmir.com)
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