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| Omar snubs Azad | | Zahid’s killer in BSF identified | |
EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, Feb 10: Fissures in coalition partners-Congress and National Conference-today came to fore when the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah snubbed his predecessor and the Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad for censuring him (Omar) on proposed policy for amnesty and rehabilitation of militants in Pakistan.
The verbal spat that has begun between Azad and Omar witnessed first rider with the former questioning the statement of former Chief Minister, saying “It’s a matter between us (the state government) and the Union Home Ministry and not the Union Health Ministry.”
“It's for the Union Home Ministry to speak on the subject,” said Omar while fielding media queries at his residence this afternoon.
His comments came in the backdrop of Ghulam Nabi Azad expressing fears that the initiative might end up as another way of infiltration. Azad had questioned Omar over his proposed terrorists’ surrender policy which would facilitate the return of almost 11,000 Kashmiri men trained in terrorist camps in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) yesterday.
Defending his proposal of a new surrender policy for the militants in PoK including those stranded across LoC and borders, Omar said that pragmatic initiatives are required to ensure economic rehabilitation of the ultras and prevent misuse of the measure. “The state government had considered all pros and cons of the idea to avoid its misuse,” he said.
“The Centre and the State Government would work out such a policy as would not hamper the national interests at any level but pave way for the militants to return to normal life. This policy would also stop their recycling into militancy,” he asserted.
Omar said that there are reports that many youngsters are returning to J&K via some countries on fake papers and then disappear. “We have to provide a foolproof surrender and rehabilitation policy for the militants,” he said, maintaining that economic rehabilitation of the surrendered militants would be the part of this policy.
“Once you have a policy they would come forward and return to the normal life,” Omar maintained.
Over the killing of a youth in Kashmir Valley allegedly by security forces, Omar said that the Government has succeeded in pin pointing the security person accused of firing at 16 years old boy Zahid Farooq of Brain, Nishat, Srinagar resulting in his death.
“After sustained efforts with the help of BSF, the State Police has identified the accused involved in the killing of the young boy”, he said, adding that the BSF has suspended the personnel and handed him over to the State Police for charge-sheeting and trial in the court of law.
He said that a water tight case on the basis of solid evidences and proofs would be framed against the accused so that he gets severe punishment.
“We want to set an example by handing over stern punishment to the BSF personnel accused of firing and killing the young boy so that it also serves as warning to others that the Government will not spare anyone involved in innocent killing,” he asserted.
He expressed gratitude to the Union Home Minister for his support to the State Government in identifying the accused and said that he had taken up the issue with P Chidambaram at the sidelines of Chief Ministers Conference at New Delhi, the other day who had assured full support to the State Government in the matter.
“Before talking to you on the subject, I rang up the Union Home Minister to express my thanks,” he added.
The Chief Minister also referred to the efforts made by his political colleagues, State Police and Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir in speedy investigation and identification of the accused. He also appreciated the role of locals of Brain, Nishat especially the family of the deceased young boy allowing the Government to investigate and identify the accused to charge-sheet him for punishment.
He said that he has made it clear a number of times that instead of making slogans and raising false cry over the issues, he quietly takes actions to solve the problems and ensure justice which also nullifies the accusations leveled against the Government.
“In this particular case by swiftly identifying the accused, which is a record in 20 years of militancy in the State, we have replied many questions being raised against the Government, but the full reply would be when the accused gets severe punishment through the court of law,” he added.
He expressed the hope that the speedy action of the Government would, by and large, calm down the sentiments and have salutary effect on the people. “Law and order problems put the general public to inconvenience, effecting largely students, small traders, labourers, poor shopkeepers etc,” he said adding that masses in general and right thinking people particularly are against spiral of law and order situation.
“Only vested interests are benefited in such situations,” he cautioned.
Omar said that when strikes and lockouts are coupled with acts of damaging the property and endangering the life of people, a democratic means of protests become unfortunate tool of violence.
Stating that the Government is determined to maintain law and order, he called for general support from the people and political parties in this regard. He said that the Government has inputs and evidences that stone-pelting is due to money pumped by vested interests rather than any ideological commitment.
In reply to a question regarding revocation of Special Power Act, Omar said that the Act cannot be seen in connection with the law and order situations. “It is necessarily related to the militancy and law and order problems which take place even in the states where there is no militancy”, he said adding that it is for this reason the State Government has sought removal of AFSPA application from the areas in the State where there is no militancy.
On quiet diplomacy, the Chief Minister said that his Government would continue to facilitate dialogue between the Centre and all shades of the opinion in the State.
Responding to a question on the pace of development and spending of funds on projects in the State, the Chief Minister said that despite late sanctioning of annual plan and many other difficulties the State this year witnessed highest spending as compared to last fiscal.
The Chief Minister was flanked by the Minister of State for Tourism, Nasir Aslam Wani and his Political Advisor, Devender Rana.
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