Published On:Wednesday, 22 October 2014
Do you think if my house collapsed I would go out and vote:Omar
No more firing at Tosamaidan but Army to stay
Tosamaidan: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday once again predicted a very low voter turnout if the Election Commission of India decided to hold assembly as per schedule this year. Omar and his national conference have been repeatedly warning against holding of polls post floods saying that the state government was too busy in relief and rehabilitation efforts and polls would disturb the same.“People will be more interested in rebuilding their houses rather than in a democratic process to cast votes,” the Chief Minister said.
Chief Minister also said that it was unfortunate that some political parties were in a hurry for their own political rehabilitation rather than the rehabilitation of flood victims.Abdullah added that it was up to the Election Commission to hold elections."The decision to hold elections or not hold elections is for the election commission to decide. Some political parties seem to be in a hurry for their own political rehabilitation rather than the rehabilitation of the people who are flood affected, that is unfortunate," said Abdullah.
"The state government at the official level has made its view known to the Election Commission, at political level the consultations were with the political parties, in which the National Conference has made its position well known," Omar added.He further said that the voter turnout in the flood affected regions would be low.
"I am sure that the flood affected areas will show a very poor voter turnout, the shops are closed and the houses have collapsed," he said."Do you think that if my house had collapsed then I would go out and vote?" he asked.
Omar was speaking at Tosamaidan after Army formally handed over the meadow to the state government after some five decades. Tosamaidan was under army since 1960’s for conducting artillery drills.Speaking to the media, Omar said the lease has not been renewed and state government will find an alternate place for the army to conduct their military exercises. “We are in discussion with the army and they understand that Tosamaidan is of no use to them now. We will find and alternate location for the army for conducting training drills,” he said.
Omar said that in coming time Tosamaidan will be one more addition to the tourist spots of the state. “I appeal people not to construct huge buildings here. Establish small huts and please don’t destroy the beauty of this place. Don’t make it look like Kullu Manali. Help us to preserve the natural beauty of this place,” he said and added that Army has demined the area so it is now to be made a tourist resort.
The Chief Minister, however, said that Army’s presence will continue in Tosamaidan for the security reasons. “They will remain here because of some security reasons. But as of now Tosamaidan is not a firing range,” he said.
On the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), Omar said he would continue to raise the issue of AFSPA as the law is no more needed here. “I didn’t renew the pitch on AFSPA. My point of view on AFSPA will continue. I know the Defence ministry has taken a new line on AFSPA and their point of view differs, but that will not stop me from raising the issue,” he said.
He said that every year there is a steady decline in militancy and there are some areas in J&K where Army is no more participating in anti-militancy operations. “We don’t need AFSPA in such places. I understand Army and Defence Ministry has got reservations but that cannot stop me from raking up the issue. On that basis I believe the moment has come to discuss AFSPA threadbare,” he said.
When asked was it like comprising with the national security, Omar said raising an issue isn’t compromising with the national security.
Speaking on the occasion, while handing over Tosamaidan to the state government, GoC 15th Corps Lt Gen Subatra Saha said after tremendous hard work by the army the meadow has been cleared off from the unexploded things. “I am 99.9 percent sure now that this place has been cleared from shells and bombs. If people still find such things here they should immediately report to the nearest army camp,” he said.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah also expressed hope that Prime Minister Narendra Modi would accept the package proposal submitted by the state to help in the rehabilitation of the flood-affected people and make an announcement in this regard on his Diwali on Thursday. "We have submitted a package of about Rs 44,000 crores for some relief to the flood-affected people and we hope that if the PM is coming, and significantly coming on Diwali, we hope that this package is going to be accepted," said Omar.
The Chief Minister said he did not want to get into a political debate over the timing of the Prime Minister's visit as Modi was coming to express solidarity with the people of the state."The PM is coming on Diwali. I do not want to get into any sort of political debate on this issue by undermining this visit.
The fact is that he is coming, he says he is coming to express solidarity with the flood-affected people of Jammu and Kashmir. As I said, I hope that his visit means that the package is going to be accepted and announced," Omar said.
He said the relief of Rs 75,000, given by the state government to those whose houses were fully damaged due to the floods, was not an "absolute number" and the state would provide more once the Centre announces a package."Rs 75,000 is not an absolute number. I have always said that Rs 75,000 is a starting point. Nobody has said that this will be be-all and end-all.
"Please understand that we have projected Rs 9 lakh to Government of India for fully damaged structures and not Rs 75,000. Rs 75,000 is only to help people in these few months.
We will get more money from GOI. Don’t worry," he said.
Tosamaidan: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday once again predicted a very low voter turnout if the Election Commission of India decided to hold assembly as per schedule this year. Omar and his national conference have been repeatedly warning against holding of polls post floods saying that the state government was too busy in relief and rehabilitation efforts and polls would disturb the same.“People will be more interested in rebuilding their houses rather than in a democratic process to cast votes,” the Chief Minister said.
Chief Minister also said that it was unfortunate that some political parties were in a hurry for their own political rehabilitation rather than the rehabilitation of flood victims.Abdullah added that it was up to the Election Commission to hold elections."The decision to hold elections or not hold elections is for the election commission to decide. Some political parties seem to be in a hurry for their own political rehabilitation rather than the rehabilitation of the people who are flood affected, that is unfortunate," said Abdullah.
"The state government at the official level has made its view known to the Election Commission, at political level the consultations were with the political parties, in which the National Conference has made its position well known," Omar added.He further said that the voter turnout in the flood affected regions would be low.
"I am sure that the flood affected areas will show a very poor voter turnout, the shops are closed and the houses have collapsed," he said."Do you think that if my house had collapsed then I would go out and vote?" he asked.
Omar was speaking at Tosamaidan after Army formally handed over the meadow to the state government after some five decades. Tosamaidan was under army since 1960’s for conducting artillery drills.Speaking to the media, Omar said the lease has not been renewed and state government will find an alternate place for the army to conduct their military exercises. “We are in discussion with the army and they understand that Tosamaidan is of no use to them now. We will find and alternate location for the army for conducting training drills,” he said.
Omar said that in coming time Tosamaidan will be one more addition to the tourist spots of the state. “I appeal people not to construct huge buildings here. Establish small huts and please don’t destroy the beauty of this place. Don’t make it look like Kullu Manali. Help us to preserve the natural beauty of this place,” he said and added that Army has demined the area so it is now to be made a tourist resort.
The Chief Minister, however, said that Army’s presence will continue in Tosamaidan for the security reasons. “They will remain here because of some security reasons. But as of now Tosamaidan is not a firing range,” he said.
On the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), Omar said he would continue to raise the issue of AFSPA as the law is no more needed here. “I didn’t renew the pitch on AFSPA. My point of view on AFSPA will continue. I know the Defence ministry has taken a new line on AFSPA and their point of view differs, but that will not stop me from raising the issue,” he said.
He said that every year there is a steady decline in militancy and there are some areas in J&K where Army is no more participating in anti-militancy operations. “We don’t need AFSPA in such places. I understand Army and Defence Ministry has got reservations but that cannot stop me from raking up the issue. On that basis I believe the moment has come to discuss AFSPA threadbare,” he said.
When asked was it like comprising with the national security, Omar said raising an issue isn’t compromising with the national security.
Speaking on the occasion, while handing over Tosamaidan to the state government, GoC 15th Corps Lt Gen Subatra Saha said after tremendous hard work by the army the meadow has been cleared off from the unexploded things. “I am 99.9 percent sure now that this place has been cleared from shells and bombs. If people still find such things here they should immediately report to the nearest army camp,” he said.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah also expressed hope that Prime Minister Narendra Modi would accept the package proposal submitted by the state to help in the rehabilitation of the flood-affected people and make an announcement in this regard on his Diwali on Thursday. "We have submitted a package of about Rs 44,000 crores for some relief to the flood-affected people and we hope that if the PM is coming, and significantly coming on Diwali, we hope that this package is going to be accepted," said Omar.
The Chief Minister said he did not want to get into a political debate over the timing of the Prime Minister's visit as Modi was coming to express solidarity with the people of the state."The PM is coming on Diwali. I do not want to get into any sort of political debate on this issue by undermining this visit.
The fact is that he is coming, he says he is coming to express solidarity with the flood-affected people of Jammu and Kashmir. As I said, I hope that his visit means that the package is going to be accepted and announced," Omar said.
He said the relief of Rs 75,000, given by the state government to those whose houses were fully damaged due to the floods, was not an "absolute number" and the state would provide more once the Centre announces a package."Rs 75,000 is not an absolute number. I have always said that Rs 75,000 is a starting point. Nobody has said that this will be be-all and end-all.
"Please understand that we have projected Rs 9 lakh to Government of India for fully damaged structures and not Rs 75,000. Rs 75,000 is only to help people in these few months.
We will get more money from GOI. Don’t worry," he said.
