Jammu and Kashmir Assembly adjourned sine die

SRINAGAR: The last session of 11th Jammu and Kashmir Assembly today ended on a cordial note as treasury benches and opposition thanked each other for cooperation and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah's remark about becoming old drew laughter from legislators.

Omar, who is the leader of the house, while speaking at the conclusion of the 12th session of the current Assembly said his hair had greyed considerably in the past six years since he became the chief minister.

"It feels like yesterday when I stepped into this house for the first time (in 2009). But when I look into the mirror, I can feel every moment and every day of the last six years.

"I had one or two grey strands ... I used to read newspaper without feeling need for this (pointing to spectacles). Today, I have to look for the spectacles every morning for reading ... then only I can see.

"It seems that I was young when I entered the House and now when I am leaving, I have started stepping towards old age," he said.

Omar said there had been considerable improvement in the situation over the past six years as militancy in the state has dropped by 80 per cent.

Without naming the BJP, the Chief Minister hit out at the national party for banking on election boycott in certain Assembly segments for electoral gains in the Valley.

"Our people should be alert about the coming elections. Conspiracies are being hatched .... An atmosphere has been created where ultra national forces and those whom they call anti-national, both have similar agenda.

"Today, success of elections in some places is being weighed in the scale of how few votes will be cast. And where there is no effect of boycott, there we will divide the people. Attempts are being made to disrupt the situation," he said.

Omar said the parties should contest the elections on the basis of principles and ideas but when they divide the people, it becomes very difficult to bridge the gap.

"We are still feeling effects of the 2008 (Amaranth land row) situation," he said.