Jammu, Sep 20: Former chief minister of J&K Omar Abdullah on Wednesday said that talks cannot be held (with Pakistan) if attacks like Rajouri, Kokernag and Srinagar continue.
He said New Delhi alone cannot be held responsible for ensuring a favourable atmosphere for talks but it is up to Islamabad to take tangible measures for peace.
There is a need to create an atmosphere for talks and it is not the responsibility of India alone but of Pakistan majorly, he said, adding that the neighbouring country has to take tangible measures for peace in the region.
Talking to reporters on the sidelines of an event held here, Omar said Pakistan should come forward and fulfill its responsibility to make the atmosphere favourable for talks between the two neighbouring nations. However, as per the current situation, there is no sign visible in making the atmosphere peaceful from that side, he said.
To a query, the former CM said, “I have put forth my point of view in the meeting of I.N.D.I.A. bloc; however it is up to the alliance either to accept or reject my opinion. I didn’t walk out or boycott the meeting; I just put forth my party’s stand.”
“I didn’t thrust my opinion upon them. It is my viewpoint. I am not retreating from my stand. Now it is up to the alliance either to accept or reject my opinion,” he added.
If we have to overpower the BJP, we should field united candidates in those areas where the saffron party has a chance to win, Omar said.
Meanwhile, according to a statement issued by National Conference, Omar, who is also the party’s vice president, said the recent back-to-back encounters in Kokernag and Rajouri contradict the government’s claim on normalcy.
He called out LG Manoj Sinha’s “aversion for democracy and democratic forces”, saying, “LG Sinha was inventing surveys to justify his unwillingness to conduct assembly elections in the union territory and remain its uncrowned ruler. J&K was going through a strange time where one doesn’t know who to trust and what to believe. The government says one thing in the Supreme Court and something else outside it. Different statements, that were difficult to understand, were made in the past few days.”
“On August 05, 2019, Article 370 was abrogated and it was said that J&K was not completely integrated into the country. That has been done after abrogating the Article. In the Supreme Court, the government’s lawyer said that the abrogation was necessary as J&K’s people considered themselves separate from the rest of the country and it was done to remove this thinking. After a few days, we heard the LG say that he is in J&K till he fully integrates J&K with the country. Now tell me who is lying?” he said.
