No Post-Poll Alliance With BJP, Cong: Omar

Regrets inability to revoke AFSPA, will accept people’s verdict

SRINAGAR:  A day before the assembly poll results that are widely predicted to go against his government, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah rated his own performance as “between 6.7 and 7 on 10.” 

“There is not a single decision that I have taken as a chief minister that I would call a blunder,” Omar Abdullah said as a parliamentary committee criticized his government’s handling of the floods in September – Jammu and Kashmir’s worst in 100 years. 

Omar Abdullah made it clear that there are no lines of communication open with any party. He said that for the formation of government purposes, his party National Conference is not in touch with any political party whether that is BJP, Congress or PDP.

He made it clear that National Conference is not going to forge an alliance with the BJP. “I tweeted about Atal Bihari Vajpayee as it was his birthday. How can one tweet make an alliance. This is not the way politics is done,” Omar told a news conference here on Monday

Omar said that BJP is only silent about Article 370 and it has not disassociated itself from it or other host of issues. “NC can’t reconcile with this party as still and till date Narendra Modi is silent over conversion issue,” he said.

Asked what he feels about losing the state as predicted by exit polls, the Chief Minister said, “We will accept the people’s mandate. It is the matter of immense pride and pleasure that I have served the people of Jammu & Kashmir for six years now.”

He added, “There is not a single decision that I have taken as a chief minister that I would call a blunder.” However, Omar said, “There are aspects of last six years that I’ll carry some regrets about but made no secret of those regret.”

“2010 killing is the biggest regret, also I regret the inability to revoke AFSPA,” he told reporter.

Responding to a question, Omar Abdullah said he would give six and a half or seven out of ten marks to his government. “There were some good works that my government did here which included the decline of militancy, huge jump in tourist inflow, successful conclusion of Panchayat elections and passing of some important legislations including Public Services Guarantee Act and Right to Information Act,” he said adding that his party will put up a credible show. 

“I would at this point like to thank the people of Jammu and Kashmir who overwhelmingly participated in the Assembly elections. Personally, given the facts that these elections were taking place in the shadow of most devastating floods in more than a generation, I would have grudge with the people if their participation had been much lower than this,” he said.

Advising people of Srinagar to take lessons from the people residing in other constituencies and shun boycotting elections, Omar said that if these complain about poor infrastructure or poor response from the government, then they must come forward, vote in large numbers and elect their representative.

While answering to a question, Omar termed the reports baseless that hundreds of stone-pelters are behind the bars. He said that only five to ten people are in jails. “If someone has been arrested for the smooth conduct of poll process, that would have been done by the Election Commission of India and I am not responsible for that,” he said.

In a candid reply to a question, Omar Abdullah said that PDP did not reap the benefits from the mistakes that his government committed. “There were killings in 2010 followed by the hanging of Afzal Guroo and after that floods hit the Valley. There is politically something wrong with the PDP as it did not claim securing 44+ like BJP. If I would have been in their position, I would certainly have exploited these mistakes for my benefit,” he said.

Omar Abdullah while responding to another question said that he was never critical of his (Congress) ministers during election campaigning. “Ghulam Nabi Azad ran a very bitter campaign against me and my family. Perhaps he was desperate to pull out his party that has sunk deeply,” he said.

He further said that NC and Congress cannot form the next government as both according to opinion polls (if assumed to be true) will not touch the 44 mark together. “There was no other alternative in 2008 but to forge an alliance with the Congress. I don’t regret having an alliance with Congress as I had a smooth relationship with some of the Ministers of the Congress party,” he said. 

Without naming, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Omar said that it is unfortunate to link elections with Kashmir issue. “If somebody claims that higher turnout in Kashmir is a strategic victory of India over Pakistan, then those people put the future elections in danger. Elections in Kashmir should not be linked with Kashmir issue,” he said.

Follow this link to join our WhatsApp group: Join Now

MONTHLY	Rs 100
YEARLY	Rs 1000
LIFETIME	Rs 10000

CLICK FOR DETAILS