controversial statement Chief Minister Omar Abdullah saying that Kashmiris cannot be "taken for granted" and that New Delhi engages with them only when there is trouble has evoked sharp response from his coalition partner, Congress. The New Delhi based Congress spokesperson, Renuka Chaudary, while reacting to Omar’s demand to engage Kashmiris politically, said, “A coalition does not sidestep national interests at any point. What Omar is saying about his concerned state and what the central government is discussing with him are things which are outside the public domain.” Omar suddenly training guns at New Delhi has come as a surprise for people sitting there and for Kashmiris also. Since the day Omar took over as the Chief Minister in 2009, he has avoided taking confrontation with New Delhi that too in “peace times.” Is it that Omar is fed up with New Delhi not changing its Kashmir policy? Or is it that he is trying to address his constituency in Kashmir ahead of Assembly elections? Omar off late seems to be unhappy with New Delhi. Some people believe that PDP’s growing proximity with Congress too has made Omar uncomfortable. The other factor which seems to have not gone well with Omar is that Congress has not responded to his desire to enter into a pre-poll alliance with National Conference. Whatever said and done Omar’s anti-Delhi posturing has somewhat shaken people there. They have started describing J&K as a sensitive state and want Omar not to discuss matters pertaining to JK in the public domain. Omar mocking at New Delhi for not engaging with Kashmiris during “peace time” is a bold step. He has shown the courage to take the bull by its horns. There is nothing wrong with Omar asking New Delhi to engage with Kashmiris politically. When militancy was at its peak and 2008, 2010 summer unrest had shaken New Delhi’s foundation in Kashmir that time all its leaders were keen on holding a dialogue with Kashmiris. Why wasn’t talking about political issues that time detrimental to national interests? Someone should ask Renuka Chaudary today. One wonders why New Delhi believes that any leader talking about aspirations of Kashmiris is a threat to national interest. The recent statement of the Congress spokesperson has made one thing clear that it wants the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir to toe New Delhi’s line and ensure that he or she represents centre in Kashmir rather than representing Kashmiris in New Delhi. Omar doing the other way round seems to have hit the ego of the “nationalist leaders” in New Delhi, who believe Kashmir is a no issue and it has been settled long back.
Posted on: Tue, 16 Jul 2013 04:22:50 +0000
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