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| Omar tells separatists to respect sentiments | | | EARLY TIMES REPORT
Jammu, Dec 31: A day after his name was cleared for the top post in Jammu and Kashmir, National Conference leader Omar Abdullah today asked separatists in to respect the sentiments of the people. He said they they should strengthen the hands of the state government instead of resorting to hartals and bandhs.
Omar also wanted the UPA government to have a fresh look at peace efforts with Pakistan and work for quickly removing "misunderstandings".
"The call for a poll boycott by separatists has not borne any fruit and people in the state have shown that they want peace and nothing less," he said.
"Respecting this sentiment, the separatists should strengthen the hands of the state government and be a constructive critic rather than give calls for hartals and bandhs," Omar, who will soon become the state's youngest chief minister, said in Srinagar where he reached from New Delhi today.
Outlining his goals, Omar said the state has to work with double the effort to bring its economy back on track.
"We have to bring in more and more public and private firms into the state and create special areas meant for various industries and manufacturing sectors. All this will be possible once a sense of peace is ensured in the state," Omar said.
The NC, which bagged 28 seats in the polls, is tying up with the Congress which won 17 seats in the 87-member assembly to form the new government. The elections witnessed a high voter turnout of 61.5 per cent.
Omar said the Centre needed to give a fresh look at peace efforts with Pakistan and ensure that the "misunderstandings are removed as quickly as possible".
"A stable relation with the neighbouring country will be highly beneficial for the country," he said.
Omar expressed confidence about NC-Congress coalition government. Both the parties have come on a common platform. "Both have an agenda of not sacrificing the people's interest for petty politics."
However, the National Conference Chief feels the time has come for every party including the PDP, BJP and even the independents to work together with the coalition government for making the lives of people better.
"There are several areas in the state where there is no electricity and proper roads. These are issues that will be on top of my priority list," he said.
Asked about the National Conference-Congress alliance in 1987 which came a cropper, Omar said "one must not forget the mistakes are milestones to success. We, together, will be able to ensure that this alliance lasts for the entire six years."
"Failure once does not mean that the alliance cannot take place again. And things have changed since then and we will stand benefited," he said.
On his relation with Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi, Omar asked "Why is this an issue. Can't the third generation work together?"
"My grandfather (Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah) worked with his grandmother (Indira Gandhi), my father (Farooq Abdullah) worked with his father (Rajiv Gandhi), so I think we can also work together," Omar said, adding, "may be the time has come for the third generation to work together at the state level as well," Omar added. |
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