Pakistan ‘not architect’ of Kashmir unrest: Omar Abdullah

BY NEWS DESK

Former chief minister of Indian-held Kashmir Omar Abdullah said on Wednesday that Pakistan was ‘not the architect’ of the present crisis in the Valley.

In a press conference in Srinagar, Abdullah blamed the Indian government for the situation in Kashmir saying, Pakistan could be “fishing in troubled water” in the state but the current situation in the Valley was not created by the neighbouring country. “They are not architects of the problem and they are not keeping it alive. It is our inability to address this anger that is keeping it alive,” Abdullah said.

The Indian government has long held Pakistan responsible for terrorism in the region, an accusation that the latter has vehemently denied. The former chief minister further said that opposition parties in the state had decided to approach President Pranab Mukherjee to apprise him of the ground situation. “When you say Kashmir is an integral part of India, you are talking only about the land. You need to own the people (living in that land),” he added.

Abdullah, who was joined by several leaders from other opposition parties, said the situation in Kashmir would only improve when the centre recognised the problem and tried to address it. “Today, both the state and the central governments are turning a blind eye to the situation. If you don’t recognise the anger, if you don’t address the root cause of this anger, how will the anger die? That’s why we are telling the Centre, ‘Please recognise (that) there is a problem,” he said.

The leader of the opposition in the held-Jammu and Kashmir Assembly also criticised Indian premier Narendra Modi for not addressing the Kashmir crisis. He added that Modi had taken notice of the Dalit agitation in Gujarat which was “far lesser” in magnitude. “This is because Modi feels ownership over the people and Gujarat,” Abdullah said.

“Why is it that we don’t get owned, our anger doesn’t get owned, our sentiment is not owned? If you don’t recognise this anger on ground, if you are unwilling to address the anger, then you are unwilling to own the people,” he added.