Taking advantage of the ideological differences between the new alliance partners in Jammu & Kashmir, leader of Opposition in the Assembly Omar Abdullah on Thursday goaded Chief Minister Mufti Mohd Sayeed to support 'Ghar Wapsi' of youth willing to return home under the Rehabilitation policy from across the line of Control (loC).
"Instead of supporting the BJP's agenda of 'Ghar Wapsi' you should support 'Ghar Wapsi' of those youths who are ready to return home without guns from across the loC," Omar said accusing the PDP patron of totally ignoring their plight in his Government's Agenda of Alliance. Speaking on the Motion of Thanks to the Governor's address, Omar provoked Mufti Mohd Sayeed to take necessary steps to revoke Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) from certain peaceful areas by de-notifying the Disturbed Areas Act.
Omar also accused Mufti of compromising the institution of Chief Minister for the sake of regaining power. He said when I was in the chair I was often accused by the PDP chief that I have compromised the institution of Chief Minister. He said what happened to you now. Are you really protecting the institution of Chief Minister, Omar thundered on top of his voice. He said there was no need to involve New Delhi on taking the final call on the continuation of AFSPA in these areas. Is this the special status you are protectingIJ
"When AFSPA was extended to areas of Jammu, the Farooq Abdullah Cabinet had taken the decision and the same was communicated to the Governor for necessary action." He said now the reverse process can be initiated by the State Cabinet.
Delhi's intervention is not required in de-notifying the Disturbed Areas Act, he added challenging the Mufti-led alliance Government to do what he failed to do during his tenure in office. Referring to the recent flip-flop over the issue of maintaining sanctity of the State flag at par with the Union Flag, Omar said I fail to understand what was the need to issue a Government order and in case it was issued for some legal purposes why the same was withdrawn.
Taking a dig at his political adversary, Omar said whether you have received a phone call from Nagpur, Delhi or Jhandewala to withdraw the State Flag order. In a veiled reference to 2002 Gujarat riots, Omar also attempted to put Mufti in a tight spot. We want to know from you, "What happened in 2002 was right or wrong, demolition of Babri Mosque was right or wrong, do you support BJP's agenda of Ghar Wapsi or not.
We want answers from you. What you will tell people of Kashmir. Why you have compromised with your core agenda and why you have joined hands with BJPIJ Have they changed their ideology or they are less communal nowIJ
Commenting on the emotional issue of special status of J&K, Omar said, "The special status of J&K, which has been eroded (in the past), cannot be further eroded. You (BJP and PDP) cannot scrap Article 370 from the State of Jammu & Kashmir", "As if you have got some gift from the BJP by their silence on Article 370. It is not accepted to us. It (silence on Article 370) is their compulsion."
"But silence on Article 370 is whatIJ Even the then Prime Minister Atal ji was silent on it. Even if you had not been in alliance with them, still they had to be silent on Article 370. They (BJP) cannot scrap Article 370," Omar said.
On the issue of holding talks with all stakeholders including Pakistan in the Common Minimum Programme (CMP) agreed between PDP and BJP, He said, "As per the resolution of Parliament, J&K was and is part of India and the areas illegally occupied by Pakistan will be brought back. What dialogue will you doIJ" "Is this the dialogue that Hurriyat Conference would be ready to talk. Is this the dialogue that Pakistan is ready to talk. What language, you are using in CMP to befool peopleIJ" he charged.
"On the issue of West Pakistan refugees, we want to seek answers from you," he said, "Are you proposing to give them Government jobsIJ If it is so, then it means you want to make them State subjectsIJ We want to hear it from you in your reply." "What other issues they have that you want to resolveIJ" he asked and added "they have only issue that is State subject rights".
On the issues of delimitation of Assembly seats to give Jammu region more seats under it, Omar referred to the Governor's address and said, "When you say as required by law, the matter is finished. It is closed till 2026. It is face saving for the BJP so that they will go to their constituencies and say we will have delimitation.
Referring to the Rehabilitation policy, Omar said under the UPA rule at least 350 youth returned home via Nepal border to take advantage of Rehabilitation policy but ever since the NDA Government has come to office not a single individual has been permitted to return home via Nepal.
Omar said after Pakistan sabotaged Rehabilitation policy the youth chose to return home via Nepal instead of crossing the loC. Ironically, there has been no mention about this in the agenda of the alliance of the BJP-PDP alliance Government, in the Governors address or even in your statements. Omar said before Assembly polls you misguided electorate and sought votes to keep the BJP away and now you have joined hands with them. We want to know what has changed between November and March which forced you to take complete U-turn.