Srinagar: Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Sunday said there have been enough words on the Kashmir problem but the need of the hour is some concrete action, referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s observation that “vishwas” (trust) and “vikas” (development) are key to solving the Kashmir problem.
“I think we need to get away from too many words. This is the third set of words I am hearing (vishwas and vikas). Before this you had ‘insaniyat, jamhooriyat and Kashmiriyat’. You had another formulation ‘mamta’ (compassion) and something I don’t recall,” Omar told CNN News 18 channel.
“We have had enough words, let us see some action,” he said.
Omar said there was clearly a lack of trust and it was because of this lack of trust that not too many people are willing to come forward and meet the all party delegation that is on a two-day visit to the Valley.
“There is no denying that there is absence of vishwas, and it is because of our own failings. What happened to the report submitted by the all-party delegation that visited Kashmir in 2010? Why did nobody raise their voice in Parliament for last six years and ask as to what action is being taken on that report,” he said.
Omar said that “vikas” alone was not the solution.
“Vikas or development is not the solution. The people who are protesting are not protesting for development. On the contrary, they are actually targeting symbols of development like the District Magistrate’s office,” he said.
The National Conference leader also targeted the Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti-led People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) alliance, saying it was not good for the state.
“The PDP and BJP have always claimed that their coming together is tantamount to coming together of North Pole and South Pole. Geographically, if the earth’s two poles come together, it would be end of civilisation.
“(Similarly) Whatever be the reason of coming together of PDP-BJP, the end result has not been good for the state,” he said.
He said the Chief Minister not only misread the situation herself, she also misrepresented it before the central government.
“It was due to her inexperience. Had her father late Mufti saheb been alive, things would not have gone so bad,” he said.
To find a solution, Omar said, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti must listen to the voice of her conscience.
IANS