news details |
|
|
Anyone in Omar's place would have resigned for self-respect | Revocation Of AFSPA After Consensus | | Neha JAMMU, Oct 29: Ever since January 5, 2009, when NC-Congress formed coalition government in the state under Omar Abdullah, the Chief Minister had been saying day in and day out that he would revoke such laws as the AFSPA, the DAA and the PSA come what may. However, it was only this year that he raised the pitch on the issue to the extent that it appeared that he would quit the office in the event of these laws not revoked. It appeared he meant business at all cost. On February 19, Omar Abdullah asserted that the "veto power" vis-à-vis revocation of Disturbed Areas Act/Armed Forces Special powers Act was with the state government only and "not with anybody else". He made this assertion while replying to the queries pertaining to Defence Minister AK Antony's statement dismissing demands for withdrawal of the AFSPA. Omar Abdullah made this assertion in the press conference jointly addressed by him and his father Farooq Abdullah after the NC Central Working Committee meeting at the party headquarters Srinagar. On July 21, Omar Abdullah asserted that the "NC-led government has started the process of demilitarization from Srinagar" and that "he will get all the draconian laws revoked from the state during his tenure". Addressing the rally organized by his party at Quimu, Kulgam district, Omar had said, "I still have three years in power and I assure you that I will revoke all the draconian laws, including the AFSPA, from the state during my tenure". On October 21, the Chief Minister declared in Srinagar that he would revoke the AFSPA from certain areas he considered peaceful before the Durbar move or before the civil secretariat starts functioning in the summer capital, Jammu, in the first week of November. He was emphatic. He gave everyone to understand that he had done the required homework and also taken on board everyone required to be taken on board. Compare what the roaring and threatening Omar said on February 19, July 21 and October 21 with what he said in the cabinet meeting, held in Srinagar yesterday, and see for yourself the difference. Omar Abdullah reportedly "assured the Council of Ministers that he will work for consensus between various agencies connected with the law and order in the State before arriving at a decision for revocation of Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) from some areas of the State to begin with". He, according to very reliable sources, told his cabinet colleagues that "a debate may be raging now on withdrawing the Armed Forces Special Powers Act but the Centre has been working with the State Government to review the notification of the Disturbed Areas Act in some areas to enable the revocation of law that gives special powers to the armed forces". Omar Abdullah, in addition, according to the same sources, "assured the Council of Ministers that he will work for consensus between various agencies connected with the law and order in the State before arriving at a decision for revocation of Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) from some areas of the State to begin with". Not only this, the same sources also informed that the "Chief Minister explicitly told the Council of Ministers that after consensus on the issue, a proposal will be moved in the State Cabinet for decision following which the notification regarding withdrawal of Disturbed Areas Act and AFSPA from some areas of the State would be issued". "If the consensus is emerged shortly then the proposal would be moved in the next Cabinet meeting", the insiders also informed on the condition of anonymity. "The Chief Minister", according to the same sources, "also informed his Council of Ministers that the Deputy Chief Minister was in full accord with him as far as his stand on the AFSPA was concerned" and that "at least two Cabinet Ministers belonging to the Congress expressed their concern over the manner in which the Chief Minister made the statement on the AFSPA revocation on October 21 without discussing the matter in the Cabinet". What does all this show? It shows that Omar Abdullah has gone on the defensive. It shows that the Chief Minister has gone back on the commitment he solemnly made on October 21 and with much fanfare. It shows that the Chief Minister has eaten his words overlooking the fact that what he said yesterday in the cabinet meeting could be interpreted as a desperate act on the part of a frustrated and defeated person to retain control over the office. It shows that the Chief Minister could barter everything for the sake of personal power and profit. It shows that the Chief Minister has suffered a huge, huge political setback and that it would be impossible for him to regain the confidence of the people of Kashmir (in this case Muslims belonging to a particular religious sect). It shows that he, like the Leftists, only barks and not bites". It shows that the Chief Minister and his NC have gone unscrupulous for the sake of loaves and fishes of office. It also shows that the Chief Minister and the NC cannot survive without power even for a day. The truth, in short, is that the Chief Minister and the NC have lost whatever credibility they had till the other day by taking a complete U-turn. Any other person in Omar Abdullah's place would have taken no time in putting in his papers to defend his self-respect. That he swallowed all the humiliations by assuring his cabinet colleagues that "if the consensus is emerged shortly then the proposal would be moved in the next Cabinet meeting" should clinch the whole issue and establish that the Chief Minister has turned himself into an object of contempt and ridicule. It is a different story that he continues to cling to the office which he may lose in the next few days. The manner in which the JKPCC president, almost all the local Congress leaders and workers, the in-charge of the JKPCC Mahon Mohan Prakash and the party spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi have reacted during the last three-four days does suggest that Omar Abdullah could be asked to leave the office gracefully failing which he would be dumped. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
STOCK UPDATE |
|
|
|
BSE
Sensex |
 |
NSE
Nifty |
|
|
|
CRICKET UPDATE |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|