Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Monday ruled out any alliance with the BJP, saying he would not even shake hands with its leaders from a distance in view of the comments of its president Amit Shah.He also said that the National Conference will fight the forthcoming Assembly elections alone and will not enter into any pre-poll alliance with Congress.According to KNS correspondent while talking to the reporters on the sidelines of a function in Gabderbal, he said, “Recently, the BJP president made comments about Jammu and Kashmir, my party (National Conference) and even my family. I perhaps would not even shake hands with BJP from a distance.” Stating that the alliance with Congress was not fruitful Omar told reporters that the National Conference will go alone in the Assembly polls and will not enter into any pre-poll alliance with Congress.
Stating that the defeat on all the three Parliament seats was unexpected, Omar said, “The reason for defeat was that our leaders couldn’t mobilise workers properly.” He expressed hope that NC would do better in assembly polls. “If we haven’t succeeded 100 percent in running the government in last six years, but at the same time we have not also failed 100 percent to deliver.”Replying to the other question asked by the reporters Omar said that he feels that all the projects which were brain child of UPA-II in Jammu and Kashmir are being inaugurated by Narendra Modi. “I feel sad that former Prime Dr Minister Manmohan Singh didn't inaugurate these projects himself. Instead he left them for Modi,” he said.
Expressing concern over rising incidents of ceasefire violations by Pakistan, the Chief Minister said that the ceasefire violations should not happen and both India and Pakistan should talk on the issue. “The ceasefire violations should not happen I want the Prime Minister to talk to Pakistani authorities and tell them that ceasefire violations are not right,” Omar said and added that the ceasefire violations happen every now and then.“Our endeavour is to try to make sure that it does not have much impact on the general public,” he said. The Chief Minister ruled out any link between ceasefire violations with coming Assembly elections and August 15 celebrations. “There is no link between the two,” he added.
Earlier while addressing a public meeting after inauguration of 200 Panchayat ghars at Kijpora in Kangan area of Ganderbal he said Panchayats are the best tool to curb corruption and ensure transparency. “We have reconstituted Accountability Commission and constituted Vigilance Commission to tackle corruption but the best tool in this regard are Panchayat Raj Institutions (PRIs),” he said.
Omar also announced Rs 70 crores financial grants to Panchayat institutions for undertaking various development works in their Halqas. The Chief Minister said many speculations and anti- Panchayat poll propaganda was let loose by the main opposition PDP to derail the process of establishing powerful Panchayat system in the state.
He alleged the PDP leadership piloted and passed a Bill in the Legislature aimed at dissolving the then Panchayats in the state prematurely. “But we met the Governor of that time Gen S K Sinha and made him to send the bill back without giving his assent as it was totally undemocratic and authoritarian,” he said.Taking a dig at PDP for crying hoarse on the issue of corruption, the Chief Minister said the party is gathering all corruption charge-sheeted lot in its basket. “Actions of every inpidual and party reveal its agenda and real face. On one hand, they (PDP leadership) are giving sermons on corruption and on the other hand bringing all elements with corruption charges into their fold,” he added. (KNS)