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| Opinion makers in Kashmir snubbing Omar Abdullah for double approach | | Returning of NHPC Power Projects | | Early Times Report
JAMMU, Apr 7: NC working president and former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who is also the Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly, and his parry colleagues had created chaos in the House a few days ago following the stand the BJP-led NDA Government took a day before in the Parliament that the NHPC power projects like 690 MWs Salal and 480 MWs Uri-1 could not be transferred to the Jammu and Kashmir Government. "See this news Sir, the Centre has refused to return power projects to J&K. But the Common Minimum Program of the PDP-BJP government states that modalities are being discussed for return of power projects. Governor N N Vohra also asserted in his recent speech (on March 18) that government is discussing the modalities," Omar had said. "Why this lie? The CMP is a bunch of lies. Why Governor was asked to lie in his address," he also said. He, in fact, provoked trouble in the House to score political mileage and corner the PDP-BJP coalition government. What had provoked Omar Abdullah and his party colleagues was the reply of the Union Power Minister Piyus Goel that power projects couldn't be returned to the state due to "financial and legal problems".
The manner in which Omar Abdullah and other NC MLAs took up the issue of return of NHPC power projects has not gone down well with some leading opinion makers in the Valley. As a matter of fact they have snubbed Omar Abdullah and accused him of adopting double approach towards the issue. When in power, he did nothing in this regard, but after the people of Kashmir booted him out of power, he has been shedding crocodile tears and opposing the government for not doing enough to get the NHPC power projects transferred to the state government, they have been saying.
"The uproarious scenes that we are seeing in both houses of the legislature on the issue of power projects speaks volumes on the double standard and hypocrisy of these politicians. It is hard to digest how easily they play chameleon and swap identities. In power they seem intoxicated to emasculate Kashmir of its autonomous character and dignity. Forced to sit on the opposition benches, they seem to flaunt a candid posture, suggesting they are there to levitate 'regional aspirations' to a new high," a Kashmir-based opinion maker, who writes extensively on Jammu and Kashmir issues and is a supporter of the so-called Kashmiri cause, said the other day while taking on Omar Abdullah and other Kashmiri politicians.
"The opposition, led by former Chief Minister Omar, made it really tough for the ruling dispensation, in particular PDP, to wriggle out of the awkward situation in wake of the blank refusal of Delhi on return of power projects. On one hand, the CMP of PDP and BJP government states that modalities were being discussed with the Delhi for return of two power projects and Governor's speech mentioned the same, on the other Union Power Ministry said last week in the parliament that it can't transfer the projects 'owned' by NHPC as it entails legal and financial problems," he also said.
To put things in perspective and put Omar Abdullah and his father and former Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah on the mat, this Kashmiri opinion maker further said: "But, dear sir, are you (Omar Abdullah) in a position to condemn Mufti sarkar and PDP on the very issues when your party's role is nauseatingly treacherous? Not to speak of restoring autonomy, NC pledged in its poll manifesto, your papa handed over seven projects to the same wretched Corporation in 2000. Even when return of projects on BOOT (build, own, operate and transfer) basis, first agreed between Union Power Minister Kumaramanglam and state government, skipped in the MoU, the then CM Dr Farooq gulped the deceit without a twinge of guilt. Can pot call the kettle black?"
But there are reasons to believe that Omar Abdullah and his colleagues in the party will not appreciate all this criticism, which is valid and based on facts. After all, Omar Abdullah is as he is. He and his father are known for playing a different kind of politics when they are in power and doing exactly the opposite when out of power. However, what is important to note is that there are opinion makers in Kashmir who do not spare the likes of Omar Abdullah and educate the public opinion in Kashmir about the politics of deceit and power they take recourse to when in or out of power. This is a positive sign. |
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