National Conference on Sunday re-elected veteran party leader Farooq Abdullah as its president. He was selected at a delegates session held after 15 years wherein a resolution for the restoration of autonomy was also passed.
At an impressive rally in Srinagar, NC leader Omar Abdullah said people of Jammu and Kashmir are confused about the role of interlocutor appointed for talks on the state.
''Conflicting statements from BJP leaders have left the people confused about the role Dinneshwar Sharma is going to play,'' said NC leader Omar Abdullah,'' Omar said. “Even he (Sharma) will also be feeling confused.''
Around 15,000 party workers and delegates participated in the rally at Sher-e-Kashmir International Cricket Club.
“It is fine if Sharma wants to come to Kashmir and enjoy the weather and beauty, but why confuse people,” asks Omar.
He said it took Prime Minister Narendra Modi three and a half years to announce that the issue of Kashmir cannot be solved not by goli or gali( bullets or abuse) but by embracing the people of Kashmir.
He said when Home Minister Rajnath Singh said Sharma will hold talks on Kashmir to all stakeholders and all legitimate aspirations of people will be looked into, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, who had no inkling about the appointment of an interlocutor on Kashmir, held a press conference and said Sharma will also talk to the Hurriyat Conference.
''We thought talks with Hurriyat Conference was a good thing,'' Omar said. ''But then minister of state in PMO said there is no issue in Kashmir and no talks will be held with Hurriyat Conference.''
He said if the leaders didn't stop making contradictory statements, the process of holding talks would end even before its start.
On the remarks of former finance minister P.Chidambaram over the autonomy of Kashmir, Omar said: ''He (Chidambaram) said that he had realised after interacting with people from Kashmir that when they talk of aazadi they mean autonomy, but BJP a ministers say even the talk of autonomy for Kashmir is anti-national.''
The former chief minister said the situation in the state has worsened after the PDP-BJP government took charge.
People in all parts of the state are complaining, he said. “People are ruing the decision of voting for PDP. The situation has come to such a passe that even policemen are joining the militants,'' said Omar.
Hitting out at Mehbooba, Omar said the chief minister used to say Burhan Wani, the popular slain Hizbul Mujahideen commander, was created by the wrong policies of NC. ''If Burhan was a result of my mistakes, I want to ask you how many Burhans and Zakir Musas your have created,'' Omar said.
“In 2010, you locked the secretariat and went to every door in Delhi saying the situation will improve in Kashmir if Omar steps down. Last year when we went to Delhi and met with the President and Prime Minister, we only sought a political solution of Kashmir, not your resignation,'' Omar said.
Farooq thanked the party for electing him as president but also said he was no more young to shoulder the responsibility.
He said the restoration of autonomy for the state is must to ensure peace in Kashmir and added that the talk of a separate homeland for Kashmiri Hindus was a farce.
'' If you (Kashmiri Hindus) want to live in Kashmir, live amidst us,'' he said.
