Business rules sent to LG; hoping for early approval: CM

Jammu, Mar 6: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Thursday stated that for clarity in governance, Business rules were framed and sent to the Lieutenant Governor for approval.

He hoped that they would be approved soon.

With regard to members’ objection about the resolution on statehood not brought in the assembly, Omar clarified it was presumed that all members of the House were already unanimous vis-à-vis early restoration of statehood. “If Sajad Lone Sahib has any doubts, he may bring a resolution after consulting with them (BJP), our all members will support it,” he assured.

He was replying to the debate on the Motion of Thanks on Lieutenant Governor’s Address in the Legislative Assembly.

Responding to the accusations of the Leader of Opposition (LoP), the Chief Minister said, “LoP accused us of insulting Maharaja (Hari Singh) time and again. We never did so. Quote even a single instance when we would have harmed the legacy of Maharaja Sahib or changed any name – in my government; Congress government, my father’s government or during the Congress-PDP government. We did not change the names of Pratap Singh Park, SMGS Hospital, SMHS Hospital or rechristened roads named after them (Dogra rulers) anywhere.”

He said that there were big political legacies of the Maharaja. “The biggest one was this (J&K) State. What have you done to it? The central government has done it. You changed the map of the State, he had bequeathed to us. The Minister for External Affairs today said that PoK would be taken back. Who has stopped? Congress was being teased that it did not take back Haji Pir. The Kargil War gave you an opportunity as Pakistan had attacked India. What you brought back? No worries, then it cannot be done. Just a humble request, when you bring back PoK; also bring parts of J&K occupied by China,” Omar teased.

Sharpening his verbal assault against BJP, he said, “You even bifurcated the state of J&K, we were having. Ladakh was separated. You claim that the Ladakh people wanted it. Did you ask them? Kargil never favoured this decision. Now even the Leh and Buddhist population, who would have celebrated then, regret this decision. Another political legacy of Maharaja was state-subject laws ensuring exclusive rights to land and jobs. Where is it now? Himachal Pradesh is better placed than us.”

“You fiddled with his (Maharaja’s) two major political legacies. Given the scenario, the question is - did we insult Maharaja or you?” he questioned.

Omar also referred to remarks of LoP about July 13, 1931 martyrs.

“Our ideologies are different but we never use such remarks. Those 22 persons sacrificed their lives for the right to democracy. Had their struggle been irrational, Maharaja Sahib would not have taken the steps which he took after their sacrifice. Why were the Glancy Commission and Justice Dalal Commission set up after that? Why were elections announced and Praja Sabha came into being after the elections? That Praja Sabha finally turned into the J&K Legislative Assembly. Can we not remember those whose sacrifice brought the J&K Legislative Assembly into existence, with honour? Their only fault was that they were Muslims,” the Chief Minister said.

POLITICAL PRISONERS & PSA

Responding to the issue of political prisoners raised by several members, the Chief Minister said that he did not want to get entangled in the politics over it otherwise there were lot of things to share on this account – like cases were filed against many in 2016.

“They were promised to quash the cases filed against them yet it never happened. The issue regarding the termination of employees was raised. When this process started, we all knew about it. But we are committed to stopping this process and we will keep our word,” he said.

Omar said that the Leader of Opposition (LoP) tried to justify the use of the Public Safety Act (PSA).

“If PSA is your only weapon that means your case is weak. If you are keeping them in prison for years using PSA, it means that you don’t have evidence against them (prisoners) to prosecute them. If it is true as you say that they are stone pelters and OGWs (the Over Ground Workers)..., then why is there a need for preventive detention? It (preventive detention) is required where you cannot frame any other case. You slapped PSA against me because you did not have anything against me to put me under detention,” he recalled.

Reminiscing the post-August 5, 2019 days, he said that earlier he was put under preventive detention for six months. “When that period was over since you had nothing against me so to extend my detention you slapped PSA against me,” he said.

Responding to charges of LoP, the Chief Minister said, “At present Police, Law and order are not with me therefore I don’t get the figures, as quoted by you. You come with a prior briefing; I don’t have that briefing. But if the charges against 400 prisoners detained under PSA, as alleged by you, are correct in that they have worked against the country, then file a case against them; prosecute and get them convicted. But if you keep them behind bars, using PSA only, then there is some discrepancy in your words and the ground reality.”

The Chief Minister said, “Nowhere in the country, the persons who fought against autocracy were dubbed as traitors, but in J&K because they were Muslims, although they fought for democracy.”

He said that he would not dig deeper into the history and would like to own what CPI-M MLA M Y Tarigami said in his address while participating in the debate earlier. “After his address, I had sent a slip to Tarigami Sahab that he had covered almost half of my speech, which he was preparing as a reply. I will not repeat but will own his speech.”

The Chief Minister said, “There is a holiday or no holiday, their (1931 martyrs) contribution and that of Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah can never be erased. Had you asked me, I, myself, would have scrapped the December 5 holiday. During my previous term as the Chief Minister, I was contemplating reducing holidays in J&K. I had shared my idea with my colleagues. I would have started with the December 5 holiday. Because otherwise, political opponents would have targeted me if I did not touch the holiday commemorating my grandfather’s birth anniversary. But mind it, his grand persona and contribution are beyond a holiday.”

The Chief Minister said that the dignity of the House would be maintained though half of it was gone with the statehood. In this connection, he also referred to the Warrant of Precedence.

“Our fight is for justice, truth and relief for J&K people,” Omar said.

Later Sajad Lone withdrew his amendments related to daily wagers, 200 units of free power etc., after the Chief Minister assured that these issues were already under consideration and would be done as per promise.