During obituary references in J&K Legislative Assembly, Abdullah praised the former prime minister.
When Vajpayee went to Pakistan in 1999 on the maiden Delhi-Lahore bus, he visited Minar-e-Pakistan, which “was not easy to do,” the chief minister said.
“Then he stood at the border and said we can change friends but not the neighbours. Vajpayee said dialogue was the only way out. He repeatedly extended hand of friendship despite facing setbacks,” Abdullah, the Leader of the House, added.
“I have known him- Vajpayee-and worked with him as a minister in his council. When we remember Vajpayee, we remember him concerning J-K. He always tried to improve the situation in J-K. He tried to ease the tension,” he said.
He worked to open the cross-LoC routes, which were later closed again. He wanted to bring people together and try to bring civil society closer. Today, attempts are made to keep us apart,” Abdullah added.
The chief minister said that had Vajpayee’s approach been adopted, Jammu and Kashmir would not be “in the situation it is in.” After he left, his approach was forgotten. The design he had given was forgotten. What can we do?” he said.
Referring to MLA Kulgam M Y Tarigami’s remarks about the autonomy resolution brought by the then NC government in the assembly in 2000, Abdullah said that while it is true that the resolution was sent back, “Vajpayee realised it later that the government had reacted in a hurry.”
“So, he appointed senior minister Arun Jaitley to hold talks with the J-K government on it,” the chief minister said, adding it would be difficult to disagree with Vajpayee’s intentions on J-K.
