Situation across border very bad despite Chinese help: Omar
Nishikant Khajuria
JAMMU, Mar 4: Amid a verbal skirmish between ruling National Conference and opposition BJP MLAs in the House over a controversial remark, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah intervened with the assertion that there was no comparison between the divided parts of Jammu and Kashmir as the situation across the border was very bad despite Chinese help to Pakistan.
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“Every part of Jammu and Kashmir is far developed even though we have never sought help from China, America, England or France to construct our infrastructure and roads,” he said, while placating the BJP and NC members, who were exchanging heated words over the development in Pakistan-occupied Jammu Kashmir (PoJK).
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“Whatever progress has been made in the areas across the border is because of the blessings of China and mere a show off,” Omar said.
Earlier, during the Question Hour, NC MLA Saifullah Mir, had said that border infrastructure was better in PoJK than on this side, while advocating for the construction of a tunnel to provide an all-weather connectivity to border areas of Keran and Jumagund in Kupwara district.
BJP’s R S Pathania strongly objected to his comparing the two sides while Leader of Opposition, Sunil Sharma also stood up from his seat and condemned the NC MLAs for his alleged anti-national remark.
On the other hand, NC MLA Nazir Gurezi and Peoples Conference legislator Sajjad Gani Lone came in defence of Mir, claiming that latter only highlighted the challenges being faced by the locals, especially during the winter when snow cuts off roads for several months.
Even as Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather pacified the members for a smooth house proceeding, the issue again triggered verbal skirmish between the ruling and opposition members when BJP MLA Sham Lal Sharma, in his address during Motion of Thanks on Lt Governor’s address, referred to Mir Saifullah’s controversial remark and asked the NC members to keep their senses under control.
On this, Mir rose up from his seat and claimed that he did not compare India with Pakistan. “My intention was not to draw a comparison between the two parts of Kashmir. The National Conference is a party which has rendered the highest number of sacrifices for the country. Our workers, MLAs and Ministers were killed by terrorists while no BJP leader was killed in militancy,” he said and questioned Pathania for terming him a “traitor.”
As Pathania retorted that everything was on record of the House and Mir Saifullah had made a comparison between the two countries, Nazir Gurezi of NC stood up from his seat in defence of his party colleague and said: “If someone had worn a coat, what is wrong when I say he is having a good coat,” sending the house in a commotion. “I don’t care if they call me anti-national over such remark or comparison for highlighting lack of development in his constituency,” he added.
This further intensified verbal dual between the ruling and opposition members as Sunil Sharma countered and questioned the NC legislator to tell who was MLA of the constituency and which party was in Government in the State since long.
BJP’s Shagun Parihar also took strong objection to NC MLAs remarks and said that her party would not tolerate such behaviour.
Sensing the situation getting out of control, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah intervened and requesting the members to take up their seats, said, “Gurezi is not wrong in his statement but he had not completed his talk.”
“All what has been done on the borders is for show off and that also was not done by them (Pakistan) on their own. Whatever progress was made in the border areas across the Line of Control was because of the blessings of China while there is no progress in the rest of the areas,” he said.
Omar further said the development can be a matter of discussion but Mir, who lives near the Line of Control, is not wrong in sharing what he sees. “The situation is very bad there (in PoJK)… We have never sought help from any other country, we have not asked China, America, England or France to build our roads. The roads constructed across the border were done by China,” he said, adding, every part of Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed development even as “we have not provided coats to our border people.”
“Coats given to the people across the border have empty pockets,” he added, drawing laughter in the House.
The Chief Minister reiterated that we should not get entangled in such unnecessary arguments. “Wherever there is need for development, it should happen and wherever there is need for further improvement that will also be done for the welfare of the people,” he said.
Before resuming his speech, Sham Lal Sharma pointed to party MLA Shagun Parihar and said her father (Ajit Parihar and uncle (Anil Parihar) also fell to the bullets of terrorists in 2018. “The terrorist bullets do not differentiate between the people.” he added.
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