US mediation in Kashmir unacceptable: Omar

Srinagar: Calling for status quo as far as United States has been doing on Kashmir, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Monday said that mediation by the Obama administration into the issue was unacceptable.

The Chief Minister also announced that the rehabilitation policy for youth, wishing to return from Pakistan Administration Kashmir unarmed, would be cleared in the first cabinet meeting in Jammu in coming days.

“What role I would like to see President Obama or any US administration to play is the one that they have been so far playing from time to time and that is to facilitate the process between India and Pakistan,” Omar said responding to a question during Press Conference after move offices re-opened in the wintwre capital.

“We are extremely sensitive to anything that appears even close to mediation and that obviously is not acceptable… from time to time, the US administration as a friend came forward and facilitated when it was required,” he said.

Recalling Kargil, he said the most high-profile intervention was after the intrusions in 2000 when then US President Bill Clinton summoned Pak premier Nawaz Sharif to America.

“So really if the US wants to help, then they can perhaps try to get Pakistan to see things from our point of view and help the process from behind the scene,” he said.

“We do not require any sort of overt mediation and that is too much to ask… but, we can at least expect that they do not look at India through the prism of Af-Pak policy. I know it is difficult for they have troops serving in Afghanistan, but we have our own considerations,” he said, urging that the situation should not be seen through the prism of Pakistan.

To a question about the rehabilitation policy for the youth willing to return to the State from across LoC, he said it has been finalized and awaits Cabinet nod. “I expect its clearance by the Cabinet in its next meet”, he said and made it clear once again that rehabilitation policy was totally different from the surrender policy already in place in the State.

Omar Abdullah Monday said that he stood by the statement made in the Assembly regarding the political reality of the state and advised those who talk about the issue outside the House to deliberate upon it in the Legislature.

“I stand by what I said and do not want to change any part of it. Those who have gone through the entire speech completely agreed with its substance and even those who later tried to make noise on the issue outside the House, appreciated the speech by thumping the desks in the Assembly”, he said as per a Correspondent.

He said that any person should use the forum of legislature to talk about the substance of my speech instead of making statements outside the House.

To query about his meeting with US president Barack during dinner in New Delhi, Omar Abdullah said that he utilized the opportunity. “I did talk about Jammu and Kashmir and shared my views with them. I was able to tell them about Jammu and Kashmir and invited them to visit the State at some appropriate time in the future. It was an informal interaction”, he explained.

The Chief Minister said that media should wait till the conclusion of the visit of President Obama and the release of joint statement. “It is better to pass judgment after hearing the speech of US President in the Parliament and other meetings and issuance of joint statement. Till last night he has completed his business and other engagement. The operative part of his visit starts from today”, he said and asked the media persons not to be haste in making judgment over the President’s statements about the terrorism and Pakistan.

He said that the President Obama’s suggestion to India and Pakistan to focus on resolving lesser complex issues in first place and gradually moving to more compound matters was in line with the policy of India regarding comprehensive dialogue between the two countries. He said US can help in facilitating the dialogue between the two countries as a friend but the Indian position about mediation is loud and clear.

Replying another question, the Chief Minister said that people in Valley have fed up with the regular hartals as such their reaction against the constant hartal calendars was but natural. “There is fatigue about hartals, as such, are raising voices against this tactics”.

Omar Abdullah said that when he talked about the corruption menace and its effects on lower level, he meant that people face the brunt of corruption mostly on the lower level for getting day-to-day matters cleared from the offices like obtaining driving licenses, ration cards, revenue papers, no demand certificates etc. He said the corruption on both higher and lower levels were hazards and need eradication to make the governance good and public delivery effective and smooth.

To query about Central University at Jammu, the Chief Minster said that he has interacted about the early appointment of Vice Chancellor for the University, with the Indian Human Resources Development Minister, Kapil Sibal only yesterday. “I have stressed for early decision by the Union Ministry in this direction. The land has already been identified for the establishment of University and in order to move ahead, the placement of Vice Chancellor was imperative”, he said.

The Chief Minister said that government would focus on making good of the losses caused by the law and order situation in the Valley during last five months by re-doubling its efforts to fast track development process.

Earlier, he received a guard of honour by smartly dressed contingent of state’s armed force as the civil secretariat offices opened.