Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has expressed deep concerns over the current political situation in the region. He stated that had the vision of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee been adhered to, Jammu and Kashmir would not have been downgraded to a Union Territory. Abdullah made these remarks during obituary references in the assembly, reflecting on the two-day political engagement that preceded his comments.
He remembered the crucial event in 2000 when the Jammu and Kashmir assembly passed a resolution seeking greater autonomy, a proposal that New Delhi eventually rejected during Vajpayee’s time. Abdullah said that Vajpayee realized his mistake and sent the then-law minister to begin talks with the state government. The opportunity went to waste as Vajpayee died prematurely.
Abdullah’s efforts showed Vajpayee’s intent to develop relations in the region. This included opening roads to unite the divided parts of Jammu and Kashmir so that the gaps may be bridged and people-to-people relations developed within civil society.
Regrettably, Abdullah emphasized that although Vajpayee provided the roadmap, it was not fully completed and has instead left people in deeper divisions. Abdullah explained that if Vajpayee’s roadmap had been followed concerning Jammu and Kashmir, circumstances today could have been considerably different.
Abdullah said that Vajpayee was a visionary leader whose initiatives were being commemorated. He said that his landmark Lahore bus service reflected peace and dialogue. Abdullah praised Vajpayee’s guiding principle of “Insaniyat, Jamhuriyat, and Kashmiriyat,” which was all about his commitment to humanity, democracy, and the unique identity of the Kashmiri people.
