Swallow ego, seek funds from Delhi: Omar to Drabu

Omar, who is working president of opposition National Conference, said the 100 days of the present government are symbolized by U-turns on all crucial issues.

Calling the PDP-BJP dispensation as a “U-turn sarkaar”, the former J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Monday asked the Finance Minister Dr Hasseb Drabu to “swallow ego and beg before New Delhi for release of funds so that common man heaves a sigh of relief.”

He also said the State is not in a position to generate finances on its own and cater to huge financial requirements.

Omar, who is working president of opposition National Conference, said the 100 days of the present government are symbolized by U-turns on all crucial issues.

Omar was talking to media persons after releasing 17-page counter report to the ‘Agenda of Alliance’ of the ruling PDP-BJP coalition.

Omar said he used to go to New Delhi for funds. “Yes I would go to Delhi and make handfolded request before the Union Finance Minister for release of funds. I was not doing that for myself, but for the welfare of people,” he said. “Surprisingly, the present Finance Minister asserted on the floor of the house that he won’t go to Delhi with a begging bowl. With the result, he made all of us beggars. I didn’t like to beg before Delhi, but I had no other option.”

Omar said the Finance Minister must “swallow ego” and go to Delhi to beg for finances. “Honestly, J&K is not in a position to generate its own revenue to an extent where it can meet the entire plan and non-plan requirements. I request the present Finance Minister to go to Delhi and bring some finances for people. If you can’t make it alone, take me along. Let us beg together for the welfare of people,” he said.

He said the State was presently under financial crunch with treasuries witnessing Rs 900 crore pending bills. “The situation can be gauged from the fact that flood victims are being provided relief cheques worth Rs 37,” said Omar, who was flanked by NC General Secretary Ali Muhammad Sagar, Provincial President for Kashmir Nasir AslamWani, Spokesman JunaidMatoo and TanvirSadiq.

Taking at dig at the ruling coalition on the eve of completing 100 days in office, Omar said “this period of the government is symbolized by U-turns.”

“The PDP and BJP fought elections on the planks to keep each other out of power. The Agenda of Alliance of the present dispensation is marked by U-turns,” he said.

He alleged that the Chief Minister Mufti Muhammad Sayeed first gave credit to Pakistan and militants for successful elections. “Then he took a U-turn by giving credit to the Election Commission, people and security agencies,” Omar said.  “They made tall promises to flood-hit people that they would be rehabilitated. Today, flood-hit people are screaming for relief.”

ON RECRUITMENT POLICY

Omar said the PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti left no stone unturned to slam him when the previous regime framed a job policy. “She called it anti-youth and what not. Now same PDP framed a new recruitment which is not only anti-unemployed youth but draconian and the one aimed to ensure backdoor appointments. Governor N N Vohra objected to it and I hope he will continue to oppose it,” Omar said.

To a query whether he stands by his earlier statement that NC would approach Court if the government continues with its new job policy, Omar said they would approach the Governor first and in case the government still doesn’t roll back the job policy, “we will approach the High Court and Supreme Court also.”

ON REHABILITATION OF FLOOD VICTIMS

The former Chief Minister said the present Finance Minister DrHaseebDrabu termed the previous government’s Rs 4000 crore package as ad-hoc. “The present government was well within its limits to reject the package recommended by my government. But they should have come up with a new one. If our package was Adhoc,  how come the officers—Chief Secretary, Revenue Secretary, Planning Secretary and other officials are in office,” he said. “Whatever small relief is being provided to flood victims is being done on pick and choose basis.”

ON DEVELOPMENT

Omar said there is no development on ground since the PDP-BJP government took the reins of power.

“The government started beating drums about pending liabilities. The fact remains that every new government inherits some past baggage. When I took the power in 2008, I inherited the huge burden of new districts created by the then Chief Minister GhulamNabi Azad. I never screamed,” he said. “I also shouldered the burden of 6th pay commission. It was a decision taken already; we only implemented it without making any noise.”

ON WAVING OF PAK FLAGS

Omar blamed television news channels and their anchors for giving hype to the issue.

“It’s the news channels and their anchors that blow the issue out of proportion. The more they would do it, the more reaction they will get. The moment they will stop it, there will be less reaction,” he said. “In my tenure, there were such incidents also, but the frequency was less. The incidents of waving of Pakistani flags have badly affected the tourist season. We hardly have a tourist in Kashmir at this stage. April-May season was lost because of premature flood alarm. At present, the flag issue has cast a shadow on the tourism sector.”

ON AFSPA

Omar alleged that the present government started changing its stand on AFSPA revocation. “The Chief Minister took a lead by leaving the ball in the court of New Delhi. I never passed the buck by saying that the final authority lies with the Centre. Had my coalition partner supported me, I would have succeeded to some extent on the issue,” he said.

ON HOISTING STATE FLAG

Omar said independent MLA Er Rashid was well within his rights to hoist the State flag. “A case is pending before the High Court whether the State flag should be hoisted along with Indian flag on August 15 and January 26,” Omar said. He said the Chief Minister Mufti Muhammad Sayeed needs to clarify the need of issuing an official order on the State flag first and then withdrawing the same.

‘MUFTI A CHANGED MAN’

Omar said he could feel that Chief Minister had changed a lot. “I don’t see same Mufti that he was in 2002,” Omar said, hinting at “surrenders” made by the Chief Minister after forging ties with BJP.

ON AIIMS: 

Omar accused the PDP-BJP government of creating a regional wedge on the issue of establishing AIIMS. “When Centre announced IITs and IIMs, I went to Delhi and urged them don’t announce anything as the move would create regional divide. Instead, I sought two Central Universities, one each for Kashmir and Jammu,” he said. “The government must address the issue of AIIMS without any further regional confrontation.”

ON PRISONERS:

“When I was the Chief Minister, PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti would beat her chest by stating that thousands of prisoners were languishing in jails. If we go by the recent Assembly records, Chief Minister is on record that only 16 prisoners were in jails and of them most were timber smugglers while rest foreign militants,” he said. “I am shocked, if there were thousands, where have they gone.”

Asked whether the BJP was on way to ensure systematic saffronisation of bureaucracy, Omar said not a single transfer takes place without the consent or approval of Chief Minister. “He (Mufti) owes an answer to this question,” he said.