Kashmir News: Youth joining militancy as Delhi has failed to address political aspiration: Omar Abdullah KNL-KASHMIR NEWS 24/7 On Jan-15, 2019 Failure of New Delhi to address political aspiration of people was forcing Kashmiri youth to pick up gun, former chief minister and vice president National Conference Omar Abdullah said. On militancy In an exclusive interview with Kashmir Leader, Omar said had peoples’ aspirations been addressed Kashmiri youth won’t have picked up gun. “They (New Delhi) measure peoples’ aspiration in terms of monetary and employment packages. They think that giving jobs and allocating funds is going to address people’s aspiration,” Omar said. But, he said, such packages doesn’t address people’s political aspiration and the youth who are forced to pick up the gun as they can see that New Delhi is not interested in political solution to Kashmir issue. “I am not saying that give us a solution which addresses aspiration of all people, but if we can take majority of people along it wil be a major confidence building major,” said Omar. This year, so far more than 250 militants have been killed in counter insurgency operations in Jammu and Kashmir. At the same time the Valley has witnessed an increase in the number of Kashmiri youth joining the militancy, raising questions about New Delhi’s strategy for dealing with the Kashmir issue. “More than 250 militants have been killed this year so far, including top commanders from all the militant groups. However, there is no denying that there has been a rise in militant recruitment this year. Certainly the number has been higher than last year, when around 126 locals joined militancy,” a government official said. To a question about killing of militants, Omar said he has always advocated that people should stay away from the gun. “We have been victim of this gun for a long time,” said Omar. On broken promises Omar said there have been occasions in the past when New Delhi seemed to be sincere in moving forward on Kashmir and trying to find a resolution. “There have been occasions…when they talked about Insaniyat, Kashmiriyat and Jhamooriyat. Even today people talk about it. But do they mean it?” asked Omar. The National Conference leader said when New Delhi initiated round table talks there was “sincerity”. But, he said, it was regrettable that the process didn’t move forward. “There was also sincerity when interlocutors were appointed in 2010, but the mission wasn’t taken to the conclusion,” said Omar. He said the unfortunate thing has been that there has been “no consistency in this sincerity”. “That is the main reason that people have lost faith in the central government,” said Omar. On ‘grand alliance’ In November 2018 National Conference offered an unconditional support to the Peoples Democratic Party for government formation in the state. This dramatic development was followed by Sajad Lone’s claim to government formation. But, finally the governor decided to dissolve the Assembly. Talking about his party’s support offer to PDP, Omar said it wasn’t for the first time National Conference offered support to PDP. “Didn’t this development take place in 2014 when I tried (to offer support to PDP to keep BJO put) after election results were out. I extended hand of friendship when we had got the news that Mufti Sahab was going to align with BJP. I had feared that this development would have serious repercussions on state and that is why we had offered unconditional support to Mufti. But he rejected it,” recalled Omar. “What happened to the state then is in front of everybody to see now,” said Omar. Asked the decision to form the grand alliance, along with the congress was a move to keep Sajad Lone led third front out of power Omar said: “Not at all. People will decide whom they want to elect, not me nor PDP or Congress.” Omar said it was New Delhi’s “design” to give power to them (Sajad Lone) and that it was revealed by the governor Satya Pal Malik who said that if he had looked towards Delhi then he would have to install third front government in Jammu and Kashmir and he would have proven dishonest in the history. “To stop them (New Delhi) the governor acted,” said Omar. He however said the aim of the grand alliance was to take Jammu and Kashmir out of uncertainty. ‘JK a political issue’ Omar said he has been consistently saying that Kashmir was a political issue which needs to be addressed politically. “We didn’t wait in 2010 to tell it in front of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during inauguration of a railway station in Anantnag that Kashmir was a political issue. I told him that economic packages were not going to solve Kashmir issue and solution to Kashmir issue can’t be bought through money and packages,” said Omar. “Kashmir is a political issue and has to be resolve politically,” said Omar. He also spoke on the fax machine fiasco in Raj Bhavan. “These things happen in democracy but still we have been able to work for the state. Such situations have been witnessed in other states too. Didn’t center tried to use Raj Bhavan in Karnatka to enforce the government on people,” Omar said “But you will have to look at other institutions as well like free press in Jammu and Kashmir. There is no such thing which gets suppressed in J&K in press. Then judiciary takes up issues. Election is only part of democracy. There are other vital organs like judiciary, free press and government of course,” said Omar. Asked if National Conference is voted to power during next elections what will be his agenda, Omar responded saying his party has been persistent on some critical issue and his party won’t give up. “Wait for the elections,” he said. “Things will become clearer.” On Kartarpur corridor Omar underscored the need for taking more Kartarpur like initiatives. He said the government of India should also take up with Pakistan opening of Shardapeth for Pandits across line of control. “If you are talking about bringing people and hearts close then there are more routes which can be opened to bring people together,” said Omar. “Kartarpur is a good CBM, but it shouldn’t be the end. It is a step towards that goal. It has to be taken forward,” said Omar. Asked whether he expects that Kartarpur will help in breaking ice between two countries Omar said Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has already said that he will wait till general elections are over in India. “I also don’t think anything big will happen till then. Let new government come and we will hope for a new beginning,” said Omar. New Delhi measure peoples’ aspiration in terms of monetary and employment packages. They think that giving jobs and allocating funds is going to address people’s aspiration. But such packages doesn’t address people’s political aspiration and the youth who are forced to pick up the gun as they can see that New Delhi is not interested in political solution to Kashmir issue The unfortunate thing has been that there has been no consistency in this sincerity from New Delhi. That is the main reason that people have lost faith in the central government.

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