Srinagar: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has said that even though he does not accept everything that the government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi does, he also thinks there is no need to pick a fight with the Centre where there isn’t need for one.
“It is unnecessary to pick a fight with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led NDA government at the Centre when there is not the need for one. I believe that having pragmatic relations with the Centre is key to ensure progress and development in Jammu & Kashmir,” Omar Abdullah said in an interview with India Today.
He emphasized that working with the PM Modi-led government doesn’t mean that he accepts everything they do.
“Look, if push comes to shove, then that will inevitably happen. Why does one have to start on an antagonistic note? The fact is that when I met the Prime Minister, the Home Minister, they were very sort of forthright in saying that the people have spoken, that the mandate has to be respected, and that they will support and assist the government to the fullest extent. So when they haven’t left any scope for antagonism, why should I pick a fight where one is not necessary? Going ahead, if it comes to that, then we’ll see. But that situation hasn’t arisen,” he said.
About restoration of statehood, he said that “we are agreed that Jammu and Kashmir needs to progress, that development needs to take place; and that statehood needs to be restored. But I don’t resort to fighting where at the moment there isn’t the need for one!”
He also said that being the chief minister of UT, has “been a learning experience, let’s put it that way. I knew being chief minister of a union territory was not going to be an easy sort of thing to come to terms with. Some things fit alright, while some have been difficult, but life goes on.”
Acknowledging that there are two power centres in Jammu and Kashmir, he said, “The Lieutenant Governor has powers, and so does the elected chief minister. And truth be told, it makes for a pretty messy situation,” he said.
“I don’t think any organization does well when there isn’t a unity of command. There is a reason why you have only one cricket captain, only one Army chief, an Air chief, a Naval chief, one prime minister. You don’t have a multiplicity of command. But for some reason, we have this union territory model, and it doesn’t work,” he continued.
On being asked about the functioning of government from two power centres, Omar Abdullah said, “It’s been a period of adjustment for both of us. And that’s bound to me. I mean, it’s a new experience for Lieutenant Governor also. The first four years, he was the sole authority. Now he has to share power with an elected government. So, obviously, it’s a period of adjustment for him as well. But we are making it work”.
“Because in Delhi, it’s very clear there is a separation of powers. That’s something that needs to be clarified, but I am working on the assumption that this is very much a temporary situation, because you have commitments from the Prime Minister, the Home Minister and others that statehood would be restored in J&K. So I think it’s only a matter of time,” he said.
About meetings regarding restoration of Statehood to J&K with PM Modi, and other Union ministers recently, Omar Abdullah said “We don’t have a timeline, but I expect it at the earliest, simply because it’s the promise that the Home Minister, the Prime Minister and others have made. It was a commitment made by the Supreme Court. In fact, a little more than a year and a month ago, the Supreme Court said that statehood should be restored at the first available opportunity as soon as possible. So I’m hopeful that it’ll be quite soon”.
About reservation, Omar Abdullah said that the matter is being addressed on twin tracks. “Look, it’s working on a twin track. There is a Cabinet sub-committee that has been tasked with examining the reservation issue. It’s also a matter that is now in front of the J&K High Court, and the court has very clearly said that any recruitment that is done now will be subject to whatever the ultimate outcome of this court decision is. Ultimately, this matter will be agitated in the Supreme Court. It is the Supreme Court that will have the final say on this, and the Cabinet sub-committee will do its work,” he said.
He, however, continued that “I’m not going to make the mistake of telling you what my own personal views on this are and then be accused of… seeking to influence what the Cabinet sub-committee or what the courts are going to do. Whatever my opinion may be, there is a process, there is a procedure. That procedure will have to be followed. None of what you see is a result of this government’s actions. Like it or not, we’ve inherited this situation. The situation wasn’t created in the last two months. It’s been created over the last five years. But it’s something that needs to be looked at. And that’s what we’re doing”.
On release of political prisoners, he said that it’s something that has to be done. “I believe that an amnesty for people who do not have serious charges or who, in the years that they’ve now been incarcerated, you haven’t been able to charge at all”.
