Militancy was at its lowest ebb in 2014, people’s cooperation must to end it: Omar

‘Statehood our right, Centre promised its restoration’*PDP, PC destroyed J&K, misguided youthExcelsior CorrespondentJAMMU, Apr 9: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said today that the people’s cooperation is a must to eliminate militancy which was at its lowest ebb in 2014 and declared that there will be no shortfall in the efforts for restoration of promised Statehood to the Union Territory.Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp“Which Government has tolerated terrorism? At least, the Government (NC-Congress) which I was part of never tolerated terrorism. I believe we should take J&K where I (as Chief Minister) had left it in 2014 (after completion of the tenure).

The whole of J&K was almost freed of terrorism. Except two-and-a-half districts, the militancy was nowhere to be seen in Kashmir,” Omar told reporters after end of 21-day long budget session outside the Assembly premises.He said the Government, during his previous term, had also zero tolerance against terrorism.



Click here to watch videoResponding to a question about Home Minister Amit Shah’s recent visit to Jammu and Kashmir and his direction to the security officers to follow zero tolerance for terrorism, Omar said: “Today, we also want that there is no militancy and I am repeating it that without taking the people along, you cannot end militancy. In this fight (against terrorism), we have to take the people along. This is how they are going to succeed in their mission.

I see the role of elected representatives and they will continue to play their role”.On restoration of Statehood, Omar said there will be no shortfall in the efforts in this direction.“Statehood is our right and we have been promised of its restoration (by the Central Government).

I hope this process will be initiated soon,” he said.Defending protests by NC MLAs in the Assembly over the Waqf Amendment Act, he said the recently enacted law has hurt the sentiments of the majority of the people in J&K.“Majority of the members of the House were upset with the Waqf Amendment Act and wanted to express themselves in the House.

Unfortunately, they did not get the opportunity to put forth their viewpoint on the matter. They wanted to represent the sentiments of the Muslim majority region within the Assembly. But what cannot be done within the House, we will do it outside.

The bill passed in the Parliament has hurt the sentiments of the majority of the people of J&K,” Omar said.He said that his party will elaborate on the future course of action it intends to adopt on the Waqf issue.Taking a dig at PDP and People’s Conference, Omar said: “Today those people are speaking (against me) who were sitting in the lap of BJP and talking about ‘milk and toffees’.

.. they destroyed Jammu and Kashmir and are now making allegations against me.

They distributed bats, misguided the youth and dragged them to the then Home Minister’s programme”.He said today “if we are in this condition, it is because of those people who are raising their fingers against me”.The Chief Minister said it is true that two days ago, he took his father to the Tulip Garden along the banks of Dal Lake in Srinagar.

“It is a matter of coincidence that at that time, a Central Minister (Rijiju) was present there. We had a hello-hi there and he wanted to take a picture with me. Should I have refused and misbehaved? He wanted to take a picture so I took a picture with him,” he said.

He said those people who “gave entry” to the BJP into Kashmir are now trying to use such a thing against him.“They are yet to apologise to the people of Jammu and Kashmir for the killings of 2016. I think this is completely wrong and they should first look inward and see what their actions were, what relations they had with the leadership of BJP and what disadvantages Jammu and Kashmir had to face because of those relations before pointing fingers against me,” he said.

Omar said the protectionist policies are not beneficial to anyone, highlighting the need for free trade among the countries.He opposed the imposition of reciprocal tariff by the United States and said he sees a change in the role of China and America in the present day world.“I don’t have much knowledge of economy but as far as my understanding, I think free trade should be there among the nations which are going to be impacted (by the US decision).

.. if the US economy is hit, it will have an impact on the global economy,” the Chief Minister said.

He said it is strange that the country which has set an example of free trade is now working against free trade.“Today you are seeing China more in favour of free trade instead of America. It is strange because America is now playing the role of China.

I think they should play their own role as protectionist policies are not beneficial to anyone.“When I was in (former Prime Minister Atal Bihari) Vajpayee-led Government and we had to remove the quantitative restrictions on imports, the highest pressure in the World Trade organization was from America. Today the same country is imposing curbs using tariffs,” Omar said.

Asked about improvement in relations between India and China, he supported good relations with all neighbours and said “if our country’s relation with China improves it is a good thing.”However, he said China considers many parts of Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh as its part and “if China is ready to accept that Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh are part of this country, it is good. Relations should improve (among the countries).

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