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RETIRED MOD
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It's gonna be a MUST READ! As they say straight from the horses mouth!
http://www.muslimnews.co.uk/news/news.php?article=12798
http://www.muslimnews.co.uk/news/news.php?article=12798
By Shafiq Mir
Rajouri, Indian Occupied Kashmir, (Greater Kashmir): National Conference president Omar Abdullah says he wants to expose the âIndian designs on Kashmirâ in a book he is going to write in the coming months.
The expose, according to him, would include the details of meetings his father and former Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah had with Indian authorities during the NC rule in the state from 1996 to 2002.
In a chat with Greater Kashmir here Wednesday, Omar said, âI was present at many meetings held at Delhi during Farooq Sahibâs government after 1996. India has always deceived NC leadership regarding the Kashmir issue. Now I am going to write a book in which I will expose the Indian designs on Kashmir.â
While being critical of the Indian policies on Kashmir, Omar, however, said India cannot back out of the ongoing peace process. âThere is a tremendous international pressure on them to continue with the process,â he said. âAt present the situation is quite different because the Kashmir issue has attracted international attention and peace measures have been initiated under international pressure.â
Omar said though the ongoing strife in Pakistan might derail the peace process for the time being but it canât be knocked out permanently.
He said Indian government would prefer to âdo business with a stable government in Pakistan.â
Asked about the Peopleâs Conference leader Sajjad Loneâs proposal of a division of Kashmir along communal lines, Omar said, âI donât take him seriously.â He, however, said his party would oppose such a division.
Advocating the pre-1953 and post-1947 constitutional and geographical status of Kashmir, Omar said his party was ready to offer any sacrifice to achieve that status. He claimed his formula was acceptable to all sections and groups in Kashmir.
Buoyed by the public response during his tour of Rajouri and Poonch districts, the NC president ruled out a pre-poll alliance with any political party. He said, âPeople would feel the difference once I become the chief minister.â
Omar said he was more critical of PDP than Congress because Congress has no mass base in the Kashmir Valley.
âI think to criticise the Congress in the Valley is a waste of time. But here in Rajouri and Poonch, during my tour I think I have caused a dent in their constituencies,â he said.
Expressing happiness over the announcement of return to politics by his father Farooq Abdullah, Omar said, âI think Farooq Sahib committed biggest mistake by not participating in 2002 elections due to which the party suffered a lot.â
Meanwhile, addressing a rally at Manjakote here Wednesday, Omar said that it is first time in the history of the NC that the party enjoys good working relations with both India and Pakistan.
âMy meetings with Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and (Pakistan) President Pervez. Musharraf were very cordial and productive,â he said, adding, âI am confident that both the countries are aiming to find an amicable solution to the long pending issue of Kashmir and in this NC will play a key role.â
He said, âDuring my meetings with both leaders I have insisted on strengthening existing CBMs and taking new initiatives to involve the people in the peace process.â He said the existing CBMs like people-to-people contact are fast running the risk of becoming irrelevant because their benefits have completely failed to reach the people they were intended for.
He said his party believes that a permanent solution to the Kashmir issue could be arrived at when Pakistan and India are able to agree on an arrangement that the people of both sides of the divided state will find acceptable and honorable.
âIn search of such a solution, the relations that NC enjoys with both New Delhi and Islamabad and the wide reach and acceptability of the NC across the three regions of Jammu and Kashmir ensures that his party will continue to play a pivotal role,â Omar added.
In the past, he said, whenever any political party in the state had a good understanding with New Delhi, Islamabad looked upon them with suspicion, and vice-versa. âThis is for the first time that we have been able to replace past mind sets with a new thinking and that too without compromising our basic ideology and political philosophy,â he said.
Others who spoke on the occasion included, NC provincial president Ajay Sadhotra, MLAs Muhammad Aslam, Rashpal Singh, former member parliament Choudhary Talib Hussain, president NC womenâs wing Bimla Luthera, MLC Devender Singh Rana, and Bashir Ahmed Wani.
