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2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 4 Years of Omar Government
Human rights: Amid ups and downs, CM remained pro-active
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18 months after poll, panches without powers
Development claims fail to impress Oppn
Cong played second fiddle to NC
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2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 4 Years of Omar Government
Omar Abdullah, who will be completing his four years in office today, in a freewheeling interview with Associate Editor Arun Joshi on Friday said he would be judging his own performance and that of his government in 2014, when “we will go back to the people. That’s the time when people would judge our performance.”
The man who took over the reins of the government in Jammu and Kashmir, the most sensitive state in the country, in January 2009 is “focused on development activities” and at the same time conscious that there is an urgent need to resolve the Kashmir issue, politically. On the most contentious issue of recall of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), he said the matter had been favourably viewed by former Home Minister P Chidambaram. That time the Ministry of Defence had its reservations. “I can take this decision, but the Cabinet has to recommend it to the Governor and then it is up to him to accept or reject it. But before that, we want to have the Government of India on board. If there are dissenting views by the Government of India then the Governor would reject it. Then we land nowhere.” Excerpts of the interview: How are you looking towards the next two years of your tenure? We are focusing on people-oriented issues and we have further geared ourselves to meet the challenges and provide the best of governance. That would be in the run-up to the Assembly elections. Do you think that you will come back to power and hold the same chair with or without the grand alliance with the Congress? As far as the pre-poll alliance is concerned, it is a matter on which the high commands of the two parties will decide. There is no decision on the issue as yet. And as far we are concerned, we leave it to the judgment of the people. But nobody contests elections to lose. Whether or not I would be back on this (Chief Minister’s) chair again, that’s for the party to decide. You got the mandate to provide “sadak, bijli, pani” in the 2008 Assembly elections, but you changed the course by shifting focus to the political problem of Kashmir. Why? While our focus is still on the development of Jammu and Kashmir, but at the same time Kashmir is an issue which needs its resolution. That can happen only through dialogue: the dialogue between India and Pakistan; the talks between Pakistan and elected representatives. Likewise, Delhi talking to the Hurriyat Conference. But the problem is that the Hurriyat is not willing to talk to Delhi, and Pakistan is not interested in talking to the elected representative like us. That’s the problem What is your equation with the Army now? It’s certainly better than before when the former Army chief was heading the force. He made no bones about his hostility towards us. It is said that you are here because of Delhi, particularly because of your friendship with AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi. How? It was Rahul Gandhi’s statement in 2010 which calmed the clamour for you to step down. (Rahul had stated that Omar was confronted with a difficult task and needed more time and support to do things). It was one statement and that too when he was asked a question. One statement doesn’t mean that I am here because of my friendship with Delhi. Corruption is a major issue. There are charges of corruption against some of your ministers. The corruption level is the same what it was in the previous governments. Rather, it has been reduced because of the reconstitution of the State Accountability Commission, State Information Commission and State Vigilance Commission. There are many allegations, unless those are proven, no one becomes an outcast in the ministry” You had tweeted during the Legislative Council elections in December last year that there might be a ministerial reshuffle Well, there might be a reshuffle. |
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Human rights: Amid ups and downs, CM remained pro-active
Srinagar, January 4 Just two days after he took over, Omar’s claim was put to a test when a 45-year-old differently abled villager Abdul Rashid Rishi from south Kashmir was allegedly killed by the Army, barely half a kilometre away from the Chief Minister’s residence. Two months later in the same year, followed the killing of two civilians on February 23 in Sopore, which sparked massive protests across the Valley. As if it was not enough, just five months down the line, he faced the first major crisis and challenge to his government, which was also a test for his own credibility. Protests erupted in Shopian district, when the bodies of Neelofar (22) and her sister-in-law Aasiya (17) were recovered from Rambiyar stream in Shopian town of South Kashmir on May 30, 2009. Though Omar ordered a judicial probe into the incident, it did not help to pacify the flared-up passions and anger. The Shopian town observed a strike for 46 days and the Valley also witnessed protests over the Shopian incident. Subsequently, the case went to the high court, which, directed the government to hand over the case to the CBI for investigation. The crisis and the unpredictable situation of Kashmir followed Omar even in 2010, when in April that year, three north Kashmir youth were allegedly killed by the Army in a fake encounter near the Line of Control in Machil sector in Kupwara district. It was followed by the killing of teenager Tufail Mattoo in June, leading to a vicious cycle of civilian killings in stone-pelting incidents by the police and the paramilitary forces firing. These protests and unrest continued for over four months. These protests and the subsequent killing of over 120 civilians dented a blow to the credibility and functioning of Omar Abdullah government. However, through the thick and thin of 2010 crisis, Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi stood behind him firmly. This crisis also taught Omar many a lessons, which is also being acknowledged by many. “The problems in 2009 and 2010 were not of his making but Omar inherited the situation because of unresolved nature of Kashmir problem. I will give 50 per cent credit to him (Omar) for keeping peace in the past two years,” said Prof Noor Ahmad Baba, a political analyst. Many, however, cite the fatigue as a reason for peaceful last two years. “Kashmir is a very unpredictable place. After three consecutive years of protests (including 2008 unrest), the people were fatigued, which is largely responsible for the calm which we are witnessing now. Omar did nothing different,” said a former police official. Analysts say for youngsters who were at the forefront of street protests, a realisation has donned that protests are no longer a meaningful mode. But on his part, Omar has also adopted a pro-active approach, trying to reach to the people whenever situation demands. “There are Awami Mulakats regularly now and his ministers reach the spots in case of any trouble,” said a National Conference leader. “There were incidents in 2011 and 2012 that could have sparked unrest, but the situation was handled well under his command.” Killings & protests •
Just two days after Omar took over in 2009, a 45-year-old differently abled villager was allegedly killed by the Army •
On February 23, two civilians were killed in Sopore, which sparked massive protests across the Valley •
On May 30, 2009, protests erupted in Shopian district when the bodies of Neelofar and her sister-in-law Aasiya were recovered from Rambiyar stream •
In April 2010, three youths were allegedly killed by the Army in a fake encounter near the LoC in Machil •
In June 2010, teenager Tufail Mattoo was killed in a firing by the police Sector-wise achievements in 2012 Education •
Over a dozen new colleges approved • University campuses at Leh and Kargil opened •
630 new primary schools opened, 672 primary schools upgraded, 20 KGBVS established and 15 model cluster schools set up •
18 new polytechnics established, 2 polytechnics established in BGSBU Rajouri and IUSC Awantipora •
Pre-matric and post-matric scholarships to students of weaker sections, SCs, STs, Gujjars and Bakerwals, OBCs, orphans, PSPs and physically challenged to the tune of about Rs 107 crore given •
Government enhanced honorarium for anganwari workers and helpers from Rs 2,000 to Rs 3,500 per month Agriculture •
Kisan Credit Cards provided to over 3 lakh farmers •
500 tonne cold storage has been constructed at Lal Mandi •
Saffron corms have been replaced over an area of 1,200 hectares of traditional saffron growing area of Pulwama, Budgam and Srinagar districts under National Saffron Mission with the financial assistance of Rs 63.83 crore benefiting 18,000 growers •
Food production in the state increased to 15.21 lakh tonne and productivity of major crops like paddy, wheat and maize has been registered at 25.70 quintals per hectare, 20.8 quintals per hectare and 18.86 quintals per hectare, respectively •
There has been 32.59% growth in revenue collection last year, which is likely to be above 40% this year •
Two DA instalments and 2nd instalment of arrears of the 6th Pay Commission provided to employees Roads & bridges •
81 new bridges taken up at a cost of Rs 1,096.63 crore and 44 bridges are likely to be completed by the end of this year while 18 have already been completed •
144 road construction works taken up • Over Rs 304.50 crore spent under NABARD last year to complete 100 schemes while equal amount is being spent during the current year to complete 92 road schemes and 15 bridges •
Over 3,000 km of road macadamised Housing and urban development •
283 towns brought under development programmes •
Mega projects of creating parking lots in Srinagar and Jammu sanctioned •
Two flyovers at Jammu and Srinagar city inaugurated •
Income slab for economically weaker sections and low-income groups increased from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 5 lakh and Rs 1 lakh to Rs 2 lakh Industries •
Development of new industrial estates approved at Khanmoh, Ompora, Chotipora, Kupwara, Ashmuji, Vessu, Govindsar, Gatti and Samba Tourism •
Over 12.46 tourists visited the Kashmir Valley, 6.21 lakh yatris had a darshan at Amarnath shrine and 1.78 lakh tourists visited Ladakh and 101.50 lakh pilgrims visited Vaishno Devi Health •
Super-speciality hospital at Jammu completed •
18 Primary Health Centres established •
11 sub-centres completed |
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18 months after poll, panches without powers
Srinagar, January 4 One and a half year later, some of those elected to represent the region’s rural population say they are fast losing hope amidst powerlessness, heightened insecurity and threat to their lives. The Tribune talked to a random sample from the over 34,000 elected in 2011 to know what it means to be a panchayat member in Kashmir. Not a single panchayat member expressed satisfaction with the way things are going for them. The panchayat members said they were increasingly feeling desperate, humiliated and powerless about solving the issues of the people. “The government couldn’t give us anything except humiliating us in our villages,” said Gulzar Beg, a sarpanch from Badran village of central Kashmir’s Budgam district. “We sold a dream of a green garden to our villagers during election campaigns but the government gave us no powers so that we could deliver something,” he said. Kashmir’s panchayat members, some of whom echoed the views of region’s separatist leaders that they were used in the larger scheme of things to portray Kashmir as a democracy, have over the last 18 months faced fatal threats and deadly attacks by militants. Several were attacked and a few killed. As a result of the government’s failure to protect them, several hundred panchayat members offered public resignations through paid newspaper advertisements and many apologised in local mosques to escape militant wrath. When in September last year a panchayat member was shot dead in a north Kashmir village which triggered dozens of resignations every day and shocked the government, it also prompted the first serious reaction from the state government which had been boasting of holding the first panchayat election in three decades. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who has an elaborate and foolproof 24 X 7 security blanket around him, in a largely theatrical style, challenged militants to “carry out an attack on me” instead of panchayat members, whom he termed “defenseless people”. Imtiyaz Afzal, a sarpanch of Dooru village near north Kashmir’s volatile Sopore town, said it was impossible and also problematic to provide security to over 34,000 panchayat members. Instead, he said, empowerment could be their security. A common complaint from a cross-section of panchayat members was that they had become a “monitoring agency” of the Central government scheme MGNREGA. “Nothing more,” Afzal said. “MLAs have become collective sarpanches. We are not able to do anything for the public.” Afzal said the limited resources with panchayat members have made them “irrelevant” among the people who elected them. “There is no empowerment. There is no clear role for panchayats and whatever is clear is not being implemented. There is no second tier and no third tier,” he said referring to the failure of the National Conference to hold Block Development Council elections in the state which as per the Jammu and Kashmir Panchayat Raj Act should have been held within a few months of the panchayat election. State’s Panchayati Raj Minister Ali Mohammad Sagar, however, rubbished most of the claims made by panchayat members as “propaganda being made by certain quarters”. |
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Development claims fail to impress Oppn
Srinagar, January 4 National Panthers Party chairman Harsh Dev Singh said the government was running merely on the “strength” of press notes issued through the Information Department. He claimed that no tangible or visible impact was felt on the ground and that the government was resorting to mere “announcements” and “airy slogans”. While the Opposition PDP too has always minced no words in flaying the government’s development claims, either through its statements or speeches from its leaders right from patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and president Mehbooba Mufti to lower-rung leaders, Pradesh Congress Committee chief Prof Saifuddin Soz preferred not to comment. Political observer Prof Noor Mohammad Baba said there was a visible change in development activities, especially in Srinagar. He said the city now had comparatively better roads and drainage under the Omar-led government while saying that the summer capital had been “ignored” by the PDP during its tenure. Before taking the oath, Omar had put the need for development in the state and friendly relations with Pakistan on top of its agenda. While the development claims would continue to evoke reactions from various quarters, NPP chairman said the Chief Minister should not be concerned with foreign relations. “Talks with Pakistan is the prerogative of the Centre. It is a national concern and he (Omar) should see within his state only. He is not in any way concerned with foreign relations,” Singh said. While the PDP has often termed the NC demand for restoration of greater autonomy to the state a “ploy to retain power”, Prof Baba said Omar took over at a time when the peace process between India and Pakistan was not at its peak and, therefore, could not do much for improving relations with the neighbouring country. “When Omar took over, 26/11 had happened, so he couldn’t do much for the peace process between the two countries unlike his predecessor PDP-led coalition when the peace process was at its peak. You have to look at things in totality as Omar was caught in a situation where he could not do much,” he said. |
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Cong played second fiddle to NC
Jammu, January 4 The Congress in the state has played second fiddle to the National Conference as its high command continued to ignore the concerns of the state unit and went all out to appease the National Conference. Furthermore, the faction-ridden Congress in the state has also failed to effectively pursue the agenda of the party. The party leaders are more concerned about accomplishing their petty personal goals instead of implementing the party’s programmes. In the 2008 Assembly elections, the Congress in its 30-page election manifesto had promised to “restructure the constitution of the state into a federal set-up by setting up separate regional councils for the state and further decentralisation and devolution of powers to the district and the block-level councils to ensure effective participation of people in the democratic system.” The Congress’s aggressive campaign to incorporate the 73rd Amendment to Indian Constitution in the J&K Panchayat Raj Act has already fizzled out, and to save its skin now the party has been demanding the incorporation of “relevant” provisions of this amendment. The Congress had also promised to introduce a Bill in the Assembly to constitute a delimitation commission for delimiting the Assembly constituencies. It had also promised a comprehensive employment package for educated unemployed youth, women empowerment in all spheres, special corpus of Rs 20 crore for the marriage of poor girls, return and rehabilitation of Pandits, increase in pension for elderly, widow and physically challenged, OBC status to bona fide Pahari-speaking people, and compensation to trading community for the losses it suffered during the land row. All these promises made by the Congress remained only on paper. — TNS |
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Omar Abdullah, who will be completing his four years in office today, in a freewheeling interview with Associate Editor Arun Joshi on Friday said he would be judging his own performance and that of his government in 2014, when “we will go back to the people. 
When Omar Abdullah took over as the youngest Chief Minister in 2009, the first impression he had created was his zero tolerance to human rights abuses in the strife-torn state.
When more than 80 per cent votes were cast in 2011 to elect thousands of panchayat members in a landmark election, it was hailed as Kashmir’s return to grass-roots democracy and beginning of the process of devolution of power.
One and a half year later, some of those elected to represent the region’s rural population say they are fast losing hope amidst powerlessness, heightened insecurity and threat to their lives.
He said Chief Minister Omar Abdullah was the best person to answer this question and that commenting on the success or failure of the government was not under his purview. When told that the Congress too was a part of the government, Soz said: “I am in the service of people and try my best to resolve problems by taking up their issues with the ministers and officials.”