Calls for end to harassment of Kashmiris
*Hails US decision to bring down tariffs
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Feb 3: Amid reports of strained relations between Alliance partners-National Conference and Congress, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today declined to comment on setting up of a Coordination Committee to strengthen the coalition even as he welcomed the United States decision to reduce reciprocal tariffs on the Indian goods.
Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp
Five out of six Congress MLAs including PCC (I) president Tariq Hamid Karra and CLP leader GA Mir stayed away from joint meeting of the Alliance partners convened by Omar on February 2 to discuss strategy for budget session of the Legislature.
Click here to watch video
Speaking to reporters outside the Legislature this afternoon, Omar, in response to a question on the Congress suggestion for setting up of the Alliance Coordination Committee to strengthen the coalition, said the question should be put to National Conference president Dr Farooq Abdullah.
“I am the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir; I am not the president of the National Conference. You can meet the National Conference president Dr Farooq Abdullah and ask him what the party’s stand is,” he said.
The NC and Congress contested September-October 2024 Assembly elections together. However, the Congress hasn’t joined the Government.
Welcoming the US Government’s decision to bring down reciprocal tariffs on Indian goods, Omar said this would bring relief to many exporters in the country who were facing difficulties in view of the increased tariff.
“It will benefit our exports, which is a good step, as many of our exporters were facing significant challenges. Some even felt they might have to shut down their businesses. Now that tariffs have been reduced, we hope that their businesses will begin to thrive again,” he added.
Asserting that these tariffs were proving to be quite burdensome for us, and we also know very well why these tariffs were imposed, the Chief Minister observed that the United States was not happy with the fact that we buy oil from Russia.
“Trump announced that the Indian Government has now stopped purchasing oil from Russia, and because of that, the tariffs will no longer be imposed on us,” he said.
However, he wondered where the BJP-led Government would obtain oil now that it is no longer sourcing from Russia, and whether purchasing from alternative sources would result in an increase in petrol and diesel prices in the country.
“For that, we have to wait and see,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Chief Minister has called for an immediate halt to alleged harassment of Kashmir natives, whether students or traders, reported from across the country, asserting that continued victimisation of people from the Valley was unacceptable.
“This is not a good thing. I spoke on this issue at the North Zone Chief Ministers’ Conference. At that time, I requested all the Chief Ministers and the Union Home Minister (Amit Shah) to ensure the ongoing harassment of Kashmiris — whether students or traders – stops,” he said and added that he was grateful to the Chief Minister of Uttarakhand (Pushkar Dhami) for taking timely action, with cases registered and arrests made.
He expressed concern that harassment of Kashmir-natives was being reported from neighbouring Himachal Pradesh despite the Congress being in power there.
“Himachal is our neighbouring state, and despite the fact that the Congress is in power there, people (Kashmiris) are being stopped, harassed, and beaten. I request the Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister to take immediate action on this and put a stop to this victimisation and harassment of Kashmiris,” Omar said.
On Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi’s attempt to quote from what he claimed was the memoir of former Army chief Gen M M Naravane during his speech in Lok Sabha, Omar said “what happens in Parliament is Parliament’s matter”.
“It is the privilege of Parliament and the Speaker to decide. Similarly, whatever we do in our Assembly is our own matter. It would not be appropriate for our Assembly to be discussed in Parliament, and likewise, I should not comment on what happened in Parliament,” he said.
To a question on Pakistan’s decision to withdraw from T20 World Cup match against India, the Chief Minister said this was the result of the problematic intersection of sports and politics.
“Merging sports with political issues often leads to adverse outcomes. We have now completely stopped differentiating between sports and politics. Time and again, through the media, whenever there is a match between India and Pakistan, it is presented as a war. You never cover it like a normal match,” he said.
Asserting that India’s matches with Pakistan are always blown out of proportion, Omar said it was one of the reasons for such controversies to arise.
“When we play against other countries, it does not receive as much attention, but when it’s against Pakistan, it is blown out of proportion. That is when such situations arise. It should not happen. Yes, they are participating in this World Cup, but they will not play against us,” the Chief Minister said.
The post Amid strained relations with Cong, Omar declines comment on Coordination Comm appeared first on Daily Excelsior.