Srinagar, August 15 – Advocating a review in the Indus-water-treaty by India and Pakistan, the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday said that this treaty is a bottleneck for us to generate power from the rivers owned by Jammu and Kashmir. “The treaty has been signed long before and both the countries need to re-visit its provisions and work out a formula under which Jammu and Kashmir can benefit by utilizing the waters of its own rivers”, he added.
Addressing the main function of the celebrations of Independence Day, at Bakshi Stadiumin Srinagar, Omar Abdullah said that dialogue is the only means to address issues and workout amicable solution. Earlier the Chief Minister hoisted the National flag and took salute at the March Past of various contingents including those of boys and girls of various educational institutions.
Underlining the importance of dialogue between India and Pakistan to resolve all issues, Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah Saturday said that his government favours the consistent and composite dialogue between the two neighbours to sort out problems and help create a palatable and peaceful atmosphere for people especially in Jammu and Kashmir to prosper.
Referring to the Assembly elections and constitution of coalition government in the state, Mr. Abdullah said that NC-Congress coalition share common principals of secular ethos, brotherhood, equitable development for all areas and it believes in providing equal opportunity of progress and growth to every area and every section of the society without any consideration of region, religion, creed, cast or colour. “The benchmark of our functioning is the public service irrespective of any consideration. Our politics is not based on regional or religious bias nor we create wedge between the regions and various section of the society for political gains”, he said and added that entire Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh is equal before the coalition government and equitable development of all the regions is our only consideration.
The Chief Minister also highlighted the necessity of strengthening the trade through LoC and stressed on opening of Kargil-Askardu road and allowing general people to travel across the LoC without cumbersome travel restrictions and regulations.
Referring to the climate change and global warming, the Chief Minister said that the current heat wave in the state warns us of the bad effects of pollution and environment degradation. “The time is ripe enough that we the people in Jammu and Kashmir think for safeguarding the future of our state and our progeny by actively working for protection, preservation and conservation of our environment, forests and water bodies”, he maintained.
Recalling the peaceful and lovable lovely days of Kashmir some 20 years early when love, affection, co-existence of different sections of the society and people of various religious faiths living in amity ruled the roost, Mr. Omar said that during those days no mother would worry about the safe return of his son or daughter who had gone to play cricket or visit some tourist place. “The days were so beautiful and brotherhood and mutual love was so abundant that Hindus and Sikhs would celebrate Eid with their Muslim neighbours and Muslims attend the Desehra function at Hazooribagh to witness the burning of effigies of Rawana representing evil forces”, he said adding that he wants to bring those days back to valley and appealed the people to lend him their whole-hearted support for the same.
The Chief Minister assured the people that next five and half years would be the years of golden period of Jammu and Kashmir and the strong edifice laid to built New Kashmir envisioned by Sher-i-Kashmir Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, he said and added that the coalition government would keep no stone unturned in providing responsive, performing, effective and people-friendly government whose benchmark would be good governance for public service.
Referring to Armed Forces Special Power Act (AFSPA), the Chief Minister said that the issue has been flagged as important one and taken up with the Centre government at highest level. “We are seriously perusing the issue and the day will not be too far when good news about the same will reverberate the valley and other parts of the state”. He said with the improvement in the situation and return of total peace, the special powers of security forces will automatically go and men in uniform on the streets will be seen seldom.
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