Separatists' approach inexplicable: Omar Abdullah

Jammu, Nov 15 (UNI) The National Conference (NC), the major Opposition party in Jammu and Kashmir, today said it was inexplicable why the separatists never raised their voice when militants carry out bomb blasts in the tourist buses and other places.

Talking to reporters at a luncheon meeting here, NC president Omar Abdullah blamed the indifferent approach of the separatists towards the security forces for damaging the state's economy during the past 18 years turmoil.

Mr Abdullah condemned breakaway Hurriyat Conference leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani for accusing security forces of damaging state's economy.

''No doubt, anti-militancy operations by security forces in the state have damaged civilian property but the indifferent approach of separatists has done more damage to the state's economy,'' The NC president said.

The NC president rejected any ''unilateral demilitarisation'' in Jammu and Kashmir, as being demanded by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and said it should be a ''trilateral'' process and China and Pakistan should also pull out their Armies from the occupied areas of the state.

On militancy in the state, Mr Abdullah said the violence in the state had increased in the past few months.

''How can I say it (militancy) is reduced in the state? Just yesterday my Corporator is killed at Srinagar. It's my personal experience that the violence has gone up in the past few months,'' he added.

The NC leader attributed the upsurge in militancy to the developments taking place in Pakistan.

The changed political situation in Pakistan, according to the NC president, is a matter of concern and would certainly affect the state.

UNI