Kashmir Committee has no official locus standi: Omar

Srinagar: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Saturday said that Kashmir Committee headed by BJP MP and lawyer Ram Jethmalani has no official locus standi and that the only recognized dialogue was between interlocutors and people of Jammu and Kashmir. “The Kashmir Committee as far as I know has no official locus standi. There is only one officially recognized dialogue and that is between interlocutors and people of Jammu and Kashmir. If somebody wants to come and spend personal time, no problem,” Omar Abdullah told reporters on sidelines of a function organized by ‘Kashmirink Foundation’ on the theme of Climate Change at Zorawar Singh Auditorium in Jammu. On last Tuesday, Jethmalani had announced to revive the decade-old Kashmir Committee that aims to open channels of dialogue with the people of the state to work out solutions to the issue.Apart from Jethmalani, the other member of the Kashmir Committee includes senior counsel Shanti Bhushan, academic and editor Madhu Keshwar and journalist M J Akbar.  To a question about allegations by senior police officer against his Gujarat counterpart Narinder Modi that later allowed Hindus to “vent their anger” on Muslims post-Godhra riots in 2002, Omar Abdullah declined to comment.  “It is important to understand that statement from the senior officer is a part of ongoing investigation. For me to comment in an ongoing investigation before it is concluded would be most inappropriate.  The allegations are very serious and cannot be wished away but for us to comment, it would be most inappropriate.”   Earlier addressing the function, Omar Abdullah said that the visible climate change in the form of cloud bursts, earthquakes, tsunamis, snow-less winters, cooler summers, erratic rains and many more environmental shifts should serve as a wake-up call to human beings to address this hazardous phenomenon collectively. “Younger generation has all the more responsibility in this regard to awaken the society and contribute positively for the maintenance of eco-balance and environmental conditions”, he said urging the youth to play their important role to save the Earth and ecology from further degradation and damage.“Every one of us are equally stakeholders in the task of saving the Earth from continuous dilapidation to help sustenance of life and safeguarding the future for coming generations”, he said referring to the far-reaching effects of climate change and global warming.Omar Abdullah said that the unabated abuse to the environment and ecology has started punishing the human beings as the nature cannot silently absorb the large scale human interference and cruelty. “If we do not correct our conduct towards ecology, we have to pay the heavy price”, he said highlighting the extreme importance of the issue facing the world presently.The Chief Minister referred to the bio-diversity and ecological fragility of the State and said that the effects of climate change and environmental degradation has started its impact on our weather cycle. “There is no snow in Gulmarg during the prime winter, raining pattern has shown remarkable shift, Ladakh witnessed flash flood and cloud burst. Similarly, the climate change in sub-tropical and temperate regions of the State are visible”, he added and gave clarion call to one and all to feel the responsibility towards this aspect.