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| Omar keeps acrimony alive, distances from PM Modi | | | Early Times Report
KATRA, July 4: Having had direct verbal confrontation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the campaign of the recently held Lok Sabha elections, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah was today seen shying away from being photographed with Modi.
From the flagging off of Rail Link in Katra to inauguration of Hydroelectric Project in Uri, Omar preferred to keep a safe distance from Narendra Modi, despite later being the Prime Minister. Omar kept safe distance from Modi and on both the occasions, preferred to remain either in the back of Governor N.N. Vohra or stood alongside his close aide Devinder Singh Rana’s brother Dr. Jitendra Singh, who is a junior Minister in the Prime Minister's office (PMO).
On one occasion, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had to virtually request Omar Abdullah to come forward. While inaugurating the Railway Station at Katra, Modi was heard telling Omar to come forward. "Hum aapke state mein aaye hain, aap aagey to aaye," was what Modi was heard telling Omar. This did bring Omar to the forefront but he withdrew in the background as soon as Modi finished inauguration.
Omar showed signs of discomfort while sharing dais with Modi and other Ministers of the BJP led Government. Interestingly, this cold attitude of Omar Abdullah towards Modi is in sharp contrast to his behaviour on the visit of ex-Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh during the erstwhile Congress led UPA regime. Omar would often leave even Governor N.N. Vohra and other Union Ministers behind in greeting the Prime Minister and sharing stage with him.
Observers were of the opinion that by preferring to keep a safe distance from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Omar has tried to convey his vote bank in Jammu and Kashmir the message of not having changed his views on Modi. Further, there are others who are connecting this with BJP's closeness with PDP and indications of BJP forming a post-poll alliance with PDP in Jammu and Kashmir. They maintain that Omar does not want to loose favours with Congress and hence, is trying to convey the leadership of being loyal to the alliance despite crisis.
Meanwhile, speaking during the flagging off of the rail Link between Katra and Udhampur; Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah said "we were waiting for this for a long time; it will be a big boon for the locals as well. Crores of people will now be able to get Mata Vaishno Devi's blessings due to this train. I thank Modiji for it and congratulate the Indian railways," said Abdullah.
Recalling former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's contribution to the Indian Railways, Omar said, I want to recount the invaluable contribution of Atal Bihari Vajpayee's Government in the development of this rail link. Abdullah also requested Modi for the possibility to extend railway link to areas like Sonmarg and expressed the need for the upgradation of Jammu railway.
Omar underscored the need for linking Poonch-Rajouri, Doda-Kishtwar in Jammu Division with railways and extension of railway tracks in Kashmir valley to various places particularly Tangmarg, Pahalgam and other tourist resorts.
He said that economic linkage in Jammu and Kashmir and with the rest of Country is largely dependent on railway. He thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for inaugurating the railway track from Udhampur to Katra and expressed the hope that the demand of the State for the extension of railway would be accommodated for economic and developmental interests of the State. |
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