PM's package will not address political issues in J&K: Omar Abdullah

Srinagar, Nov 7: Former chief minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday said that the people of J&K were "disappointed" as the Prime Minister did not talk what they wanted to hear at the rally and the announcement of financial package "would not address the political issues" of the state.

Criticizing that there was "nothing new" in Prime Minister's speech today, Omar said that Modi did not have to come here to announce Rs 80,000-crore J&K package.

"We are disappointed. We were prepared for a historic visit which did not happen. We did not get to hear what we wanted to hear. Perhaps we should not have attached too many hopes (with Modi's visit)," Omar told reporters here.

Omar said that economic packages will not resolve the political issue of Jammu and Kashmir as it had not done in the past.

"The packages are good. I said this much to Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi at the Anantnag rally that Jammu and Kashmir is a political issue which needs a political solution. There is perhaps no Chief Minister since Bakshi Ghulam Mohammad who has not got package (from the Centre)," he said.

The working president of opposition National Conference said the ruling PDP-BJP combine had raised the hopes about the Prime Minister's visit with one of the PDP ministers terming it crucial for the forthcoming generations of Kashmir.

"The way we were prepared and what we got (after the visit) was akin to making a mountain out of molehill," he said. He said there was nothing new in Prime Minister's speech at the rally. "I regret that we were not waiting for the package as much as we were for a new political thinking," he said.

The NC leader said that Modi invoked former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's 'Insaniyat, Jamhooriyat and Kashmiriyat' during his speech to address the political issues of Kashmir.

"Vajpayee used the Srinagar platform in a difficult situation to reach out to Pakistan and start a dialogue process with the Hurriyat Conference. Coming here, the Prime Minister (Modi) said he does not need lessons from anyone.

Before him, (Chief Minister) Mufti Mohammad Sayeed talked about starting dialogue. The PM did not listen to Mufti Sahib. What is Mufti Sahib doing when his words did not stand for few minutes? Where is the agenda of alliance (of PDP and BJP)?" he asked.

PTI