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| Omar cooks instant noodle | | Says, NC ready for polls anytime | | EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, Oct 16: Taking a quick U-turn of the instant noodle kind of politics, the National Conference President Omar Abdullah today said that his party was fully prepared for going to elections but it is for the Election Commission to decide dates.
''The National Conference is ready for elections, no matter whether the EC announces the final dates now or later,'' he said. Till today, the public stand of the National Conference was on deferring elections till situation was normalized in the Kashmir Valley.
"J&K is in the grip of uncertainity due to EC's failure to announce its decision. They should end this state and announce the decision whether yes or no on the polls", NC chief Omar Abdullah told newsmen on the sidelines of a party function. He addressed a meeting of party workers at the Sher-e-Kashmir Bhawan today.
"It should have been simply no or yes to polls in Jammu and Kashmir", he said adding people and parties want a clear-cut announcement from EC. The uncertainity is not good for the people and state, he said.
Asked about BJP's allegation that Congress-led UPA government wants deferment of polls and EC was under their influence, Abdullah said NC has full faith in EC which should take a decision soon.
"The Lok Sabha session would start from tomorrow. We do not know what to do. If the EC announces its decision, we would accordingly go ahead with polls preparation", he said. The NC is ready for elections whenever they are held, he declared.
Hopeful of revival of the 'shattered' peace process between India and Pakistan, Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (NC) president Omar Abdullah today said the initiatives taken by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari would strengthen the bonds between the two countries.
''The measures, including opening of routes for cross-border trade, visit of delegations and many others will surely reinforce the links between the two countries and we are hopeful that the 'halted' dialogue process will be revived,'' Abdullah said.
''With relations getting stronger between India and Pakistan, we see a better tomorrow for Jammu and Kashmir and the entire nation as well and there are hopes that the talks will also resume,'' added Mr Abdullah.
However, expressing concern over the Assembly elections in the state, the NC president said that it is the Election Commission of India (ECI) who has to decide on the polls.
''The ECI should soon make an announcement on the Jammu and Kashmir elections. 'Yes' or 'no', the EC must finally decide,'' asserted Mr Abdullah added.
''The National Conference is ready for elections, no matter whether the EC announces the final dates now or later,'' he said.
The NC president, meanwhile, added that Baglihar Project is the NC's gift to the state, as it is an initiative and dream of former chief minister Farooq Abdullah.
''Dr Abdullah brought this mega project to the state and as it has started functioning, the state will be benefited from the Baglihar Hydel Project.
''Jammu and Kashmir is seeing a new ray of hope in the field of development and I feel that the power generated by the Baglihar Project, will appropriately be utilised in a better way,'' Mr Abdullah maintained.
The NC chief blamed the coalition partners, both the Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), for not properly making use of the hefty funds brought from the Union Government in the development of the state. |
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