Srinagar: Amid a charged political atmosphere in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly’s first session, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah delivered a speech, reflecting on the legacy of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and the missed opportunities for peace in the troubled state.
Abdullah, speaking during the assembly’s obituary references, lamented the abandonment of Vajpayee’s roadmap for Kashmir, which he believes could have prevented the state’s current status as a Union Territory from a full-fledged state.
Recalling the year 2000, when the assembly passed a resolution seeking greater autonomy for Jammu and Kashmir, Abdullah highlighted that Vajpayee, despite initially rejecting the proposal, had later recognised the need for dialogue. He had designated the then-Law Minister to engage in discussions with the state government, but fate intervened when Vajpayee passed away, leaving the crucial dialogue incomplete.
“Vajpayee realised his mistake and he designated the then law minister to engage in a dialogue with the state government on the subject. But, as providence would have it, he passed away and that was it, ” Omar said in his speech.
Abdullah emphasised the visionary nature of Vajpayee’s approach, praising his efforts to connect the people of divided parts of Jammu and Kashmir through initiatives like the opening of roads and the Lahore bus service. He argued that Vajpayee’s slogan of ‘Insaniyat, Jamhuriyat, and Kashmiriyat’ – humanity, democracy, and Kashmiri identity – reflected his deep understanding of the complex situation in Kashmir.
“If Vajpayee’s roadmap on J&K would have been implemented and followed, we would not have been where we are at present,” Abdullah asserted.
He expressed regret that the path laid out by Vajpayee was left unfinished, leading to a widening chasm between the people and fueling tensions.
“He always tried to build friendly ties with Pakistan. He was the one who continuously stated that friends can be changed but not the neighbours,” he added.
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