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| Will remain CM for full six years: Omar | | 'No scope for cabinet expansion' | | Early Times Report
SRINAGAR, June 10: Dismissing the talks of rotational Chief Minister in J&K after January 2012, Omar Abdullah, Friday, said 10-Janpath hasn't given any such indication and he will remain CM for six full years.
In an exclusive interview with KNS, Omar said, "There is an agreement between Congress and National Conference and according to that I'll remain Chief Minister for full six years."
On the recent statements by various state Congress leaders that power will change hands after three years, the Chief Minister said, "Till you don't hear it from 10-Janpath that there will be rotational Chief Minister, don't believe it. Some interested parties are trying to rake up this issue. This chapter had been closed in January 2009 only when I took over."
"There is no signal from Sonai Gandhi Ji that this chapter will be opened again. In Bhasoli Jammu she (Sonia) recently said that 'we stand by the agreement.' So there is no question of going back on it."
On current political situation in Kashmir, Omar told KNS, "Last year's situation was unusual in both the spread and the intensity of the protests. This year by the grace of Almighty things are calm at the moment. Attempts are being made from time to time to spoil the situation using hartal calls. But fortunately peoples response has been that they want normal life, they want tourism and children to go to schools and I hope it will continue."
On contradiction between state government and Army on infiltration issue, the Chief Minister said, "There are no contradictions. I had said it that time that inputs from CID and IB suggested so. But that had not been verified by the Army or multi agency center in New Delhi which approves the final figure. I had said it that time only that Army doesn't agree with these figures. So there is no question of contradiction."
Asked why government imposed section 144 in the City recently despite situation being normal, he said, "I think you need to check facts. Section 144 as a routine matter has been imposed over the last few years. Please check with Home department. The imposition of this section is not a new thing. It has continuously been happening for the last few years. Every two to three months it comes for renewal and it gets renewed."
Omar declined to comment on the question of proposed cabinet expansion and reshuffle. "There is no scope for expansion. And on reshuffle and filling of three vacant cabinet berths, I'm not in a position to suggest any time frame. When it is necessary we will do it."
On allegations of opposition Peoples Democratic Party and separatist leaders that state government wasn't allowing peaceful demonstrations in Kashmir and recent incident when a human rights activist Gautam Navlakha wasn't allowed to enter the state, he said, "I don't really care whether somebody is being allowed to come or not because my commitment isn't the one person but with entire population. I can't allow people to come here and disrupt situation. I didn't allow it in January with Tiranga yatra."
"If some one is interested to come here, let he come in October and spend whole winter here. They remember Kashmir only in summers. Ram Jeth Malani Sahib was missing for five years. When temperature soared in Delhi, he rushed to Kashmir. Let Gutam Navlakha sahib come here in winter I've no problem."
Asked whether he will make any effort to reach out to the separatists, Omar said, "I've no problem in meeting them. I think there problem is in meeting me. They don't meet anybody except those who will give them nothing. The only people they want to meet is people who can give them nothing. Whether it is Kashmir Committee or Ram Vilas Paswan or anybody else. Those who can do nothing they meet them. But people who can really make a change they don't want to meet them."
On the performance of NC in ongoing Panchayat elections, he said, "In most areas it is highly satisfactory. Some areas have given us cause for concern. It is an important mid cause assessment of where we stand."
In lighter vein he said, "Newly elected sarpanchs and panchs attend every parties meetings and tell them 'we are with you.' They are being used like Bakshi Sahib's 40 lakh with us and 40 lakh with them."
Asked what steps his government is taking to settle Kashmir issue politically, he said, "We are working with interlocutors. There can't be better time than this to settle Kashmir. It is true that relation between India and Pakistan isn't that cordial this time and post Osama killing has to be assessed. But on internal front if we miss the opportunity, we will have to pay for that later."
"If we have to achieve something it has to be achieved from the central government through interlocutors. Ambassadors of other countries who visit here can't give us anything. But unfortunately some of our leaders aren't willing to meet them," he added.
Omar lauded people for voting in large numbers in the ongoing Panchayat elections. "Despite all odds, people voted in large numbers. In area like Sopore more when more than 50 percent people vote, credit must go to the people," he told KNS.
On unemployment issue, "It is true it has not been solved and it is also true it can't be solved fully ever. Till private sector will not come here, unemployment will remain. We can't give government jobs to every one. But unfortunately last year's uprising had a bad impact on private sectors entry to Kashmir. Opening of Taj Hotel recently has sent good signal to corporate world outside. If situation remains calm this year, I'll try to woo private sector to invest here again."
On house arrest of Hurriyat Conference (G) chairman, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, he said, "If Geelani sahib wants readymade audience outside Masjids on Friday s, I'll not allow that. I won't allow anybody to disrupt peaceful environment in Kashmir. Geelani sahib is free to go anywhere on rest of the days. Where ever Geelani sahib went on Fridays, stone pelting started."
Asked about his recent tweet that he will not make Geelani hero by putting him under house arrest, "He (Geelani) isn't under house arrest. My responsibility is not to one person. And if I ve to make a decision to give a normal life to everybody in the state by putting certain restrictions on one person for one day, I'll do it." (KNS) |
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