NC-Cong alliance to continue: Omar

No question of joining NDA, ‘PDP’s falsehood is public’

5 Dariya News (Anubhav Suri)

Jammu 05-Nov-2013

Chief Minister,Omar Abdullah who is also Working President of National Conference Tuesday asserted that National Conference will continue to remain an ally of United Progressive Alliance and never join National Democratic Alliance-BJP.“We are not the people who change horses’ midstream”, he said, adding that it is better to remain out of power than compromising with the ideals nurtured by towering party leadership. He recalled the cherished observations of Sheikh Sahib on being steadfast to the chosen path and said he would always say that it is better to get betrayed than to betray anyone.“I know NC-Congress alliance is much to the discomfiture of certain political entities who want to create confusion”, he added. “There is no question of making any compromise with the principles and have any relationship with BJP-NDA”, the Chief Minister said while addressing a huge rally of NC workers at a reception held at Sher-e-Kashmir Bhavan here to mark the reopening of bi-ennial Durbar Move in the winter capital.

Omar Abdullah expressed surprise over the misrepresentation of his press interaction on the opening of Civil Secretariat and said that he had made it very clear in his reply to a question that there was no Modi wave in the country. “I had only said that Modi may have an effect over his party’s rank and file but there is no Modi wave in the country”, he said, adding that this statement of fact was unfortunately presented with a different slant. Making a difference between ‘wave’ and ‘effect’ , he cited the enthusiasm in public across the country when Mr Rajiv Gandhi contested 1984 elections as also the similar wave witnessed in Jammu and Kashmir when Dr Farooq Abdullah swept 1996 Assembly elections with National Conference getting more than two-third majority.The Chief Minister said the National Conference alliance with NDA in 1999 was mere an arrangement with a liberal leader like Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee.Mr Omar said that National Conference inherits a glorious heritage of amity and brotherhood, bequeathed by Sher-e-Kashmir Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah, and there was no question of deviation from this path.

Omar Abdullah wondered over the jugglery of PDP for taking out so called peace procession in Srinagar after the borders have turned silent. “Where were they for all these days when our people were getting bullets alongside the IB and LoC”, he questioned the PDP leadership and added that this party attempts to thrives on playing politics over the miseries of masses. Without naming Mufti Mohammed Sayeed, the Working President of National Conference said that PDP Patron is fashioned to pretend that he is not power hungry. “It’s sheer hypocrisy and a blatant lie”, he said and added “I am in politics and wants power to serve the people to mitigate their difficulties; satiating their developmental needs, wiping out tears from their eyes and ensuring them to enjoy the fruit of prosperous life”.The Chief Minister said that PDP has developed a trait of escaping the responsibilities when in power and crying hoarse over the solution of Kashmir issue and repealing of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act when out of power.Taking a dig at Mufti Mohammed Sayeed’s claim over solving the Kashmir issue once getting 40 Assembly seats, Mr Omar said that he had offered Mr. Mufti Mohammad Sayeed in the support of his 28 MLA’s to show it happned on ground. He advised PDP against indulging in double speak—saying something in Srinagar, something different in Jammu and totally a different language in Delhi. “The people are sagacious enough to read between the lines”, he said adding that the time has gone when innocent public used to get swayed by slogans. “They want performance and good governance”, he maintained.

He said National Conference does not believe in populism as it prefers to remain out of power rather than showing dreams to the people. “Most of the time our party has remained out of power and we don’t scream, like others do, when out of power”, he asserted.The Chief Minister spelt out in detail the achievements of his government during the past almost five years and said that performance of his government has been extraordinary. He asked his party’s rank and file to disseminate the performance of their government at the ground level. He described the workers as real strength of power and urged them to realize their crucial role in making the people aware about the policies and programmes of the government and the good work done during the past five years. He said National Conference is the only party having its presence in every nook and corner of the State.

Mr Omar Abdullah said his government has completed almost five years and the next over a year is a big challenge to carry forward the mission of transforming the socio-economic scenario in all the three regions with added enthusiasm. He sought the cooperation of people in this gigantic effort. He also cautioned the people against the machinations of peace inimical elements and referred to the unfortunate situation erupting in Kishtwar. “There are people who want to disturb peace and harmony by creating wedge between different segments of the society and we have to maintain vigil against them”, he said while referring to the post Kishtwar reaction in Rajouri, Kathua, Samba and Jammu. He vowed that his government will alienate such forces and not allow them to vitiate the peaceful atmosphere.Welcoming the Chief Minister and the members of his Council of Ministers in the winter capital, Provincial President Mr Devender Singh Rana hoped that the government will get engaged in carrying forward the mission of development and empowerment of people. He described the Panchayat elections as one of the remarkable achievements of the present dispensation, saying this has involved the people at grass roots level in decision making.Rana also dwelt on the revolutionary measures like Right to Information and Public Services Guarantee Acts, saying these are the measures aiming at empowering he people and making the administration responsive.The Provincial President exuded confidence that the people friendly government will continue to devote itself towards mitigating the problems of the people.Various Ministers, Legislators, ex-Member of Parliament and senior party leaders were present on the occasion. On reaching Sher-e-Kashmir Bhawan the enthusiastic crowd raised slogans in favour of Omar Abdullah and his government, showered flowers and garlanded the young leader.