Kashmir problem can only be addressed politically: Omar Abdullah

Former Chief Minister and working president of the regional National Conference (NC) Omar Abdullah on Sunday said the government can neither tire out nor buy the ongoing agitation in the Kashmir Valley and the only way out was to address it politically.

Speaking to media after he led an NC delegation to a meeting with the all-party delegation in Srinagar, Omar Abdullah said: "We told the delegation that the government can neither tire nor buy the present agitation.

"The only way out is to address it politically."

Omar Abdullah criticised Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti saying: "She wants to be the government and the opposition at the same time.

"On the one hand, she says the sacrifices of those killed in the present agitation will not go waste and, on the other hand, she says only 5 per cent people are involved in the agitation."

Omar Abdullah wondered that if only 5 per cent people are involved in the present agitation then why is every paramilitary force in the country represented in controlling this agitation.

He also said: "The Chief Minister writes to separatist leaders to give time and place for meeting the all-party delegation while these separatist leaders are under arrest."

Omar Abdullah recalled his father Dr. Farooq Abdullah having told the then Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao to give internal autonomy to Jammu and Kashmir.

"My father had then said give internal autonomy now, for I fear if you delay it today, there may be no hands to take it tomorrow.

"I fear that time has come in Kashmir," Omar said.

--IANS

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