Not concerned about criticism, I look at future: CM

Srinagar, Nov 8: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Friday said that he was not concerned about the criticism for taking a resolution to New Delhi saying that he was focused on the future and would not waste a single day as J&K CM.

Speaking on the Motion of Thanks on Lieutenant Governor’s address in the Legislative Assembly (LA), he recalled the scenes post abrogation of Article 370 and spoke about the “humiliation” faced by the political leaders while they were arrested.

“I remember how Sajad Lone, who is not in the house now, was frisked. We all were humiliated. I am recalling it now here but I won’t repeat these instances anymore anywhere how we were humiliated. My focus is on the future,” he said.

CM Omar said he would not waste a single day as CM and serve the people.

“We have to represent those who are not part of this house,” he said.

The CM said that he was happy to observe that those who had forgotten the idea of social media or had stopped writing were back and expressing their views.

“Those who had stopped writing and whose computer keyboards had gathered dust are back and expressing their views again after five years,” he said.

CM Omar said the change of academic session from November to March by the administration was part of disempowerment of people of Kashmir.

“Restoration of the November academic session was the first decision of my cabinet as there was a huge demand from parents. The session was changed without consulting parents,” he said and thanked Education Minister Sakina Itoo for reviewing the decision. “She brought a proposal and we restored the November-December session.”

The CM said that the resolution on special status passed by the assembly was not a compromise but it was drafted in a way to ensure the Centre does not consider it a trash.

“Late Mufti Muhammad Sayeed Sahab made an alliance with the BJP and when he passed away, PDP put conditions and talked about ‘Agenda for Alliance’. BJP kept PDP waiting for three months but did not sign the document and PDP formed the government with them,” he said.

CM Omar said compromise made by PDP that time led to the situation J&K was facing today.

“Now they say that I was also part of the BJP, which I admit. But we worked with them in Delhi, not here. We ensured that BJP should not enter J&K,” he said.

He said that the resolution for restoration of the special status of J&K had its own impact, which had forced the Prime Minister and Home Minister to react to it.

“If this resolution would have been weak, why would the PM and the HM mention it and point fingers at us. This house passed a historic resolution that would open doors,” the CM said.

He said that the verification process, especially CID verification regarding jobs and passports was “weaponised’ saying that his government was working to ease the verification system.

CM Omar said that in J&K, the elected government had no authority and control over security and defense as it was not in their domain.

“But people should not be mistaken that we have a rift with the Police and other security agencies. My government is always ready to support them to maintain peace here,” he said.

The CM said that peace was a must to see development in J&K.

“I am hopeful that people will behave as partners in peace to establish peace here,” he said.

CM Omar said that his government would work for the release of prisoners soon after J&K gets full statehood.

“Speaker Sahab, the current assembly is not the one we want. But at the same time I believe this a step to move forward and get full statehood restored,” he said.

Referring to his recent meetings in Delhi, Omar said he handed over a copy of the cabinet resolution on statehood which was also cleared by the LG to PM Modi.

“I also attached my DO letter with the resolution and I am satisfied that my meetings were successful,” he said.

Referring to the PDP, he said that the party should not make agendas on the basis of “University of Facebook, WhatsApp, and Twitter.”

“I write a lot on Twitter but do not read anything and I don’t get time to surf Facebook while I get some information about WhatsApp from my father. People should know that they will set our agenda, not the social media users,” he said.