Omar Abdullah justifies National Conference’s 1990s migration

SRINAGAR: Giving a new twist to the mass migration of the National Conference (NC) in 1990s, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said they left Kashmir to offer a chance to the new leadership to try a change and settle a problem. But more than two decades later, militancy has miserably failed in even changing an iota.

“National Conference (NC) did not desert its homeland in 1990s because of any fear or weakness,” Omar told a party gathering in Tral, one of the severely militancy affected belts in south Kashmir, on Thursday. “We side-stepped and left with the contention that the then emerging separatists leadership may make any dent vis-à-vis resolving vexed Kashmir issue.”

“But the result is before you. They (separatists) have not been able to deliver anything other than creating bloodshed and bundles of difficulties for people. Their claim of changing the system and the flag of the State proved totally a failure and they were not able to remove even a bunker from the state not to talk of changing the system,” Omar said.

As the militancy reached its peak in 1990, NC initially started resisting by offering its cadres security and guns. But when the situation became unmanageable, its leaders and cadres deserted Kashmir. While Dr Farooq Abdullah would shuttle between Delhi and London, most of the party cadre would operate from Jammu till 1996 assembly election brought the party back to power. Its ‘migration’ is seen as a major psychological defeat of Kashmir’s mainstream camp. Now 23 years later Omar is offering justification for the move.

“I have always talked for the need of talks and will continue to bat for it so that political issue of J&K is addressed politically.” Omar told the people that violence never resolves issues. “You are witness to it, violence adds to the miseries as it has not even transferred an inch of land from this side to that side but gave tears to every household,” Omar said. “It converted our playfields into graveyards and happy homes into mourning dens.” The blame, he said, cannot always go to Delhi or Islamabad for our miseries because “we are ourselves responsible for all the wrong”.

Chief Minister appreciated the people for risking attending the public meeting because on the eve of it militants had created a scare by opening firing in the area. He said if there is some mechanism for solving issues, it is only talks. “Tell me what is the solution other than talking across the table in a peaceful and amicable atmosphere?”, he asked.