launching a scathing attack on Opposition People’s Democratic Party, Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said that it was political manipulation, deception and gimmickry on part of the PDP to seek mandate from the people for resolution of Kashmir issue.
Without naming PDP patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, Abdullah said that a political leader who has remained Chief Minister of the State and Home Minister of the country is demanding 40 Assembly seats to address the Kashmir issue. “He (Mufti) altogether forgot it (Kashmir issue) when he was in power”, Abdullah said at Gund Khwaja Qasim village in central district Budgam. The public meeting was held in the Shia-majority village against the backdrop of recent sectarian clashes in the area.
Mufti is declaring in public meetings that his lifetime aim was to resolve Kashmir issue and if he receives full mandate from the people in 2014 elections, he would resolve the issue. “This is yet another manipulation, deception and gimmick on the part of this political leader (Mufti) who never talked of Kashmir issue when in chair as Chief Minister of the State and Home Minister of the country”, Abdullah said.
“They (PDP leadership) possess a set mind of willy-nilly obtaining power to relish it, otherwise they will not do anything even if given 80 Assembly seats”, he asserted. Omar blamed PDP leadership for imposing AFSPA and claimed that he was personally trying hard to get it revoked. Abdullah underlined the essence of peace and tranquility for equitable development and holistic progress in all areas and of all sections of the society. “Peace is pre-requisite to prosperity, and public support to maintain peace is fundamental necessity,” he said.
He asked the people to remain vigilant on people inimical to peace and development. “I do not ask you for vote or anything else at present, I only want you to continue your support to me in maintaining peace and tranquility in the State as the peace and harmony are important above everything and pre-requisite for development, employment and welfare of the people”, he maintained.
Omar referred to recent events in Gool, Budgam and Kishtwar and cautioned the people against the designs of the vested interests who want to create conflict between Kashmir and Jammu, Hindu and Muslim and Shia and Suni to polarise the society. He said these elements become active when elections draw near so that they create hatred between various sections of the society for vote bank politics. He asked the people to defeat these elements firmly and not to fall prey to their trap.