Omar sounds like a separatist, says BJP

The BJP accused Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah of "encouraging" separatists with his speech in the state assembly.

Senior BJP leader Dr Murali Manohar Joshi told rediff.com that he was willing to go to Srinagar and hoist the tricolour at Lal Chowk to drive home the point to Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah that Kashmir is an integral part of India.

"I will forward my proposal to the party high command and let them endorse it," Dr Joshi said after addressing a press conference at the party headquarters on Friday.

Joshi demanded an apology from Omar Abdullah for saying that Jammu and Kashmir had not merged with India but it agreed to be with India under the accession instrument which had the clearance of the then Viceroy of India Lord Mountbatten.

"Even most of the Kings and Princes had merged with India under the instrument of accession. This would send wrong signals to the states in the North-East. We want the government of India to take note of it. Both the consitution of India and Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir show Jammu and Kashmir as an integral part of India. "I acceot instrument of accession," Lord Mountbatten had said while giving his legal sanction to the merger of Jammu and Kashmir with the India," Dr Joshi pointed out.

Joshi sought to know under what compulsions Omar Abdullah was speaking the language of the separatists. "Naturally Ali Shah Geelani would be happy because this is what the old politician had been saying now for years," Joshi said.

"His (Abdullah) statement gives rise to several doubts. Is he saying Jammu and Kashmir was not merged? Is he challenging the Constitution and overlooking his own (J-K) Constitution. His is an irresponsible statement which encourages separatists who are saying the same thing in different words," senior BJP leader M M Joshi told reporters.

           
The former HRD Minister maintained that since Abdullah holds a "responsible, constitutional position" he should not have made these remarks in the state assembly.

           
Abdullah had said on Wednesday in the assembly that Jammu and Kashmir had not merged with India but acceded to it. "It is not right for any Chief Minister, especially of Jammu and Kashmir, to say so. The most laughable thing he (Abdullah) said was that Jammu and Kashmir had not merged but acceded. All provinces and states had acceded through the Instrument of Accession and not merged," Joshi said.

           
He stated that Section 3 of the Jammu and Kashmir Constitution also states that it is an integral part of India.

           
Joshi alleged that Abdullah had "internationalised" the issue by his statement- which included references to Shimla Agreement between India and Pakistan.

           
"The only issue with Pakistan is when it will vacate Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The 1994 resolution in Parliament when P V Narasimha Rao was the Prime Minister states that the entire area is Indian territory. When he (Abdullah) involves Pakistan

he is trying to internationalise a domestic issue," Joshi said. Joshi maintained that involving Pakistan was "not required" and is "dangerous".

           
The principal opposition made three demands from Abdullah while asking him to clarify his position. "He should not try to internationalise a domestic issue. He should not support separatists and protesters. He should not say that the eight-point formula of the Centre will not succeed when he was consulted on all points, except on re-opening of schools," Joshi said.

He also criticised the union home minister P Chidambaram for saying that there is a unique situation and it needs unique solution and also that India should redeem the promises made to the people of Jammu and Kashmir. "We would like to know what those promises are", he said.
 
Reacting to Dr Manmohan Singh's statement that talks with Pakistan could go ahead even when things were not right, Joshi said, "Is the government in a hurry to do something which will please Pakistan before President Obama's visit to India?"
Joshi also said that the government should ask Pakistan to close all terrorist training camps on its soil and stop exporting terror, before Obama's visit.

He stopped short of demanding dismissal of Omar Abdullah's government and imposition of President's rule inJammu and Kashmir.

The former BJP president maintained that Abdullah's contention of an economic package not being the solution raised further doubts. "Then is separation the solution? The country cannot tolerate this," he said.

           
"He (Abdullah) should also make clear if he has any plans for the Kashmiri Pandits who had to leave Kashmir. And also if he is making any arrangements for the Sikhs there," Joshi said.

     
The senior BJP leader insisted that the chief minister and the Centre should keep the welfare of all parts of the state- including Jammu and Ladakh- in mind while formulating policies and plans.