India, Pak were close to resolving K-issue during Manmohan regime: CM

J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said today India and Pakistan came closer to resolving the Kashmir issue during the Manmohan Singh-led UPA government and he was not expecting a return to the situation in his lifetime.

Advertisement

During obituary references to Manmohan and four former legislators on the first day of the Budget session of the Assembly, the CM praised Manmohan saying he initiated measures for the return of displaced Kashmiri Pandits and his working groups were still relevant.

Omar highlighted Manmohan’s journey from a village, which is now in Pakistan, to becoming the PM of India and his contribution to making India an economic power by introducing reforms.

On the progress made on the J&K issued during Manmohan’s regime, Omar said, “He did not take this initiative but inherited it as the start was made by former Prime Minister Vajpayee and (then Pakistan president Gen Pervez) Musharraf. He would have stopped the initiative after taking over as the PM, but was well aware that the initiative taken by Vajpayee was a big responsibility to carry forward.”

“May I say that both countries came closer to resolving this (Kashmir) problem during that period and I do not see a return to the situation in my lifetime,” he said.

Omar said when the situation deteriorated in 2010, Manmohan tried to heal the wounds by setting up working groups to improve governance and “they are still relevant”.

Referring to the displaced Pandits, Omar said everyone was talking about the community but practical steps for their welfare were taken by the Manmohan-led government.

“He introduced job reservation for the community in Kashmir and we persuaded the government. There was no such effort from anyone else,” he said, adding that he provided relief to Pandits by setting up the Jagti township in Jammu for the community members who were living in tents.

‘Resolution not rejected’

Omar Abdullah said the resolution on special status passed by the J&K Assembly in its first sitting last year has not been rejected by the Centre

“Now there is nothing else to be said and it cannot be done again and again. It was passed with an overwhelming majority,” he said