Can’t stoop low to seek statehood on tragedy: CM

Jammu, Apr 28: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Monday demonstrated traits of an immaculate statesman as he unequivocally stated that he could not resort to an ìabhorrent act to use Pahalgam terror attack to seek statehood from the Centre.î

ìNo, today at this poignant moment, there will be no politics; no (mention of) business rules, statehood or anything else. Today, on this solemn occasion, there will be only strong condemnation of this dastardly act of terrorism and the sharing of heartfelt condolences and expression of solidarity from the core of heart with the families of victims. Besides it, nothing else,î he said.

No, not this thumping of desks even! Not today, this may be reserved for some other day, CM Omar hastily directed the Members of treasury benches, who sought to appreciate the moving remarks of the Leader of the House with thumping of desks.

While winding up the discussion in the special session of the J&K Legislative Assembly on the resolution condemning the Pahalgam terror attack, the Chief Minister stuck to the essence of the resolution against the barbaric act, moved by the Deputy Chief Minister in the House.

This was despite the fact that the members from the treasury benches had raked up restoration of statehood demand while condemning the attack asserting that they could not hold anyone accountable for it (attack) as law and order was not with the elected J&K government.

CM Omar, however, minced no words in conveying that he could not stoop so low by linking political demands or issues like statehood, law and order (dual power structure) while denouncing the terror attack and diluting the gravity of the solemn occasion.

Speaker Sir, J&Ks security for the time being is not the responsibility of its (J&Kís) elected government. But I will not use this occasion to rake up demand for statehood. With what face I can flag the Pahalgam terror attack and approach the Centre to plead my cause for statehood. Do you think that I can resort to such cheap politics? Can I undermine the barbaric killing of 26 people this way by asking the Centre that statehood should be given as these people have been killed?î he asked.

The Chief Minister asserted that the statehood demand was raised (before the Centre) in the past and it would be raked up in the days to come as well. ìBut I should feel ashamed if I go to the Centre at this moment saying ñ 26 persons have been killed so statehood should be given now. This will be despicable. Statehood issue will be raised at a right moment but not this hour,î he affirmed.

EPOCH-MAKING MOMENTS DENOUNCING TERRORISM

CM Omar also reiterated that the two-minute silence observed by Jamia Masjid in Srinagar was an epoch-making moment the significance of which could be understood only by the people of Kashmir.

The Chief Minister endorsed Sajad Loneís assertion that with the gun, terrorism could be controlled but could not be ended.

ìIt will end only when the people will be with us and it seems that the people have reached there. A two-minute silence was observed in the mosques before Friday prayers ñ also in Jamia Masjid Srinagar. People elsewhere in the country will not understand its meaning and significance. Speaker Sir, You and I understand the meaning of two minutes of silence in the mosque of the area after the attack,î he said.

CM Omar stated it would be his effort to magnify this momentum and not allow it to diminish.

He also lauded the supreme sacrifice of Adil who laid down his life while saving tourists.

ìHe too could run away but he risked his life for the strangers, who were our guests. Many more such examples are now coming to the fore who risked their lives for the tourists and took them to safety. I commend and salute the spirit of Kashmiri people, traders, pony wallas, 3-wheelers and taxi drivers, hoteliers who did everything possible to help tourists without charging anything,î CM Omar said.

He said that certain students and traders of J&K faced harassment in other states of the country following the attack. ìI thank the state governments that tried to control the situation and my ministers, who at short notice, reached different states to help our citizens. But we want to create a nodal point using social media for our children and other citizens of J&K in similar situations in the future,î CM Omar announced.

He warned those media persons and social media users who resort to peddling fake news. ìSuch acts, fake news wonít be tolerated,î the Chief Minister said.

ONLY VICTIMS THEMSELVES CAN IDENTIFY WITH THE PAIN OF TERROR ATTACK VICTIMS

Earlier at the very outset of his address, the Chief Minister said none had thought on April 9 when the budget session was adjourned sine die that such a situation would erupt in J&K which would call for a special session of Legislative Assembly.

He thanked the Lieutenant Governor for summoning the special session on the advice of the Council of Ministers.

After the attack, when the Council of Ministers met for the first time to condemn it, we decided for the special session with a profound thought - Neither the Parliament nor any other State (or UT) assembly could identify the pain experienced by the families of the victims as this J&K Legislative Assembly (LA). Reason ñ only J&K LA, which houses so many victims of terror, can understand the excruciating pain of attack victims,î the Chief Minister remarked.

Speaker Sir, just have a look at your left and right side, there are so many people sitting here (in the House) who themselves have seen their near and dear ones sacrificing their lives. From our younger sister Shagun (Parihar) to Sakina (Itoo); Sajad (Lone); Qaiser Jamshed Lone.some lost their father, others their uncles. I could not describe that feeling of terror; those last moments of losing someone dearÖbetter than the way Sajad (Lone) described,î he stated.

Rafiq Sahib and Naik Sahib have seen terrorist attacks on their near and dear ones. Many of our members have experienced such attacks first-hand. The list is long. Speaker Sir, you along with Sagar Sahib; Gul Sahib; Slathia Sahib and Mir Saifullah besides many others were Members of that Assembly when on October 1, 2001, 40 persons lost their lives in an attack on the Srinagar Assembly complex. That is why I said that only this assembly could understand the poignancy of terror victims and their pain. Itís shared pain that is why we wanted this House to condemn this attack and share solidarity with the families of the victim, he said.

CM Omar endorsed Peoples Conference MLA Sajad Lones suggestion to include all 26 names of Pahalgam terror victims in the obituary reference. He read out all 26 names in the House.

The Chief Minister said that all parts of the country, from North to South and from East to West, were affected by the Pahalgam attack as different states lost their citizens to the brutal act.

He pointed out that this was not the first terrorist attack witnessed by them (Members) as they had witnessed terror attacks on Amarnath Yatra camps; Doda villages; KPs and Sikhsí localities besides many other such vicious acts.

But in the last 21 years, the Baisaran attack has emerged as the biggest attack on civilians. In between we had started presuming that such attacks were part of our past. We were under the impression that they (attacks) wonít be part of our future. But the Baisaran tragedy has revived those feelings of terror and again created that situation where we apprehend that the next attack may happen anytime, anywhere ñ we remain clueless and scared,î CM Omar said.

Emotions weighed heavy on the minds as the Chief Minister recalled those moving moments of facing the families of the victims during the wreath-laying ceremony in Srinagar.

I was also there with the Leader of Opposition. I had no words to seek an apology from the bereaved families. I knew that J&Kís security; law and order was not the responsibility of (J&Kís) elected government. Still as the Chief Minister and as the Tourism Minister, I had invited them to visit J&K. As a host, it was my responsibility to send them back safely, but I could not. And I had no words to apologise,î he said in a trembling, choked voice.

What could I have said to console those children who had seen their father drenched in blood or to the widow of that Naval officer who had come for vacation just days after their marriage? Few came to me asking prickly questions ñ ëWhat was our fault? We came for the first time to Kashmir for vacation. That vacation of theirs would haunt us forever. The perpetrators claim that they acted (killed people) to serve our (Kashmirisí) interests. But my questions will be ñ Did we tell them that we want it and that in our name, they should send innocent people in body bags? Did they seek our permission?î he threw posers.

The Chief Minister asserted that none in the House or J&K people were with the attackers or were supporting their vicious act.

He asserted that it was difficult to see a ray of hope in such an atrocious act but for the first time in 26 years, the people from Kupwara to Kathua came out of their houses of their volition to protest against the killings, raising slogans ìNot in my name.î

Ive never seen such a spectacle. We too joined them but the people were the drivers of this spontaneous reaction. They took out a procession, lit candles and conveyed unambiguously that they were not supporting the terror attack,î CM Omar said.

The Chief Minister reiterated, The terrorism will end only when people will be with us. And Speaker Sir, this is the beginning of that opportunity.

We should cautiously seize this opportunity and should not do anything that would rupture this spontaneous movement of people coming out to denounce terrorism. We should not do anything to alienate people,î he warned.