Accession to India was on three subjects: Omar

Jammu, March 25 (Scoop News) –Giving historical background of the accession of Jammu and Kashmir with the Union of India, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Monday said that those who repeatedly cram that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India (Atoot Ang) forget that the accession was only on three subjects of communication-currency, defence and foreign affairs, which was gradually eroded.

            “Nobody has challenged the accession. Tell me who has challenged it”, he said adding that relation between Jammu and Kashmir and the Union of India was built after deep thinking and its maintenance and strengthening is the duty of both the sides.

            In his about 90 minutes extempore speech while replying the discussion on motion on grants for the departments under his control in Legislative Assembly today, the Chief Minister said that it is also a fact that political issue of Jammu and Kashmir with internal and external dimensions exists and all the Union Governments right from 1971 either headed by BJP, Janta Dal or Congress have recognized this issue. And this does not at all constitute any challenge to the accession of the State to the Union of India. “If we talk of the necessity of resolving this political issue having Indo-Pak external dimension and internal dimension between the Union of India and the State, do we cease to be Indians? How does it amount to challenging accession”, he questioned and said that by talking about Kashmir issue is not in any way making us to cease to be citizens of India or challenging the State to be part of the Country.

            “Those who repeatedly talk about the Kashmir being integral part of Union of India are responding to whom? Has any member of the House questioned it?” he asked and said that for the resolution of political issues of Jammu and Kashmir various viewpoints and formulas have been given by different political parties which includes Autonomy Report projected and piloted by National Conference, Self-Rule proposal of PDP and Indira-Sheikh Accord of Congress. “The Kashmir issue exists and no one can deny it. It is not necessary we agree with each other’s viewpoints but at the end of the day we all want to address this political issue and resolve it amicably”, he said.

            “By repeating the word of ‘Atoot Ang’ (Integral Part) time and again, you cannot change the status of political issue of Jammu and Kashmir. To change the scenario you have to win over the hearts of people of Jammu and Kashmir. I have always said that Kashmir will be true part of India when you win over the hearts of the people and care for their hopes and aspirations. If you will reject them there will be alienation. Every Kashmiri is not Pakistani. When they get rejected they resort to raising such slogans which they do not believe by heart and they do it to give vent to their anger. If you think that Kashmir civil society had no effect of Afzal Guru’s hanging, you are wrong. They are not so naive. They ask reply from me for the different treatment meted out to Verrapan Gang members, killers of Punjab Chief Minister and former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi vis-a-vis Afzal Guru. I have no reply for them but some day we all have to give them reply”, he said and mentioned the necessity of imposing curfew in the Valley to safeguard the lives of the people.

            “It was not easy decision for me to impose curfew but I will not apologise for it because this measure helped me to safeguard the life and property of innocent people”, he said adding that he may regret for the difficulties people have to face for some days and newspapers did not hit the stalls. “I had categorically told the Central Government about the consequences of hanging of Afzal Guru in Kashmir Valley but they did not agree with my viewpoint and I had no option to do. Had I possessed the power of signing on the death warrant of Afzal Guru, I would have acted on my own way”, he said urging upon the Central Government to also show the strength and negate those who oppose lifting of AFSPA in selective areas in the State on the plea that it will have negative effect.

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