By IANS,
Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah says he’ll remain in the top job for the full six years, scotching rumours that the post would be rotated in favour of the ruling National Conference’s ally Congress.
He also ruled out any immediate cabinet reshuffle.
Speaking to a local news agency here late Friday, Omar said, “There is an agreement between the Congress and the National Conference according to which I will remain the chief minister for full six years.”
Some local Congress leaders have indicated there could be a rotational change for the chief minister’s post in favour of the party after three years.
But referring to Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, Omar said, “Till you don’t hear it from 10, Janpath don’t believe it. This chapter was closed in January 2009 when I took over.”
He expressed happiness that peace was prevailing in the Valley this summer, helping businesses, tourism, educational and industrial activities thrive.
“This year by the grace of the almighty, things are calm though attempts are made from time to time to vitiate the atmosphere by giving strike calls. But fortunately, people do not respond to these calls. They want normal life.
“They want children to go to schools and want tourism to thrive. I hope it will continue.”
On allegations levelled by the opposition Peoples Democratic Party and separatist leaders that state government was not allowing peaceful demonstrations in Kashmir and also the government’s recent decision not to allow rights activist, Gautam Navlakha, to enter the valley, Omar said, “I don’t really care whether somebody is being allowed to come here or not because my commitment isn’t with one person but with the entire population.
“I can’t allow people to come here and disrupt the situation. I didn’t allow it in January with the (Bharatiya Janata Party’s) Tiranga yatra,” he said.
“If some one is interested to come here, let him come in October and spend the whole winter here. They remember Kashmir only in summers. Ram Jethmalani sahib was missing for five years. When the temperatures soared in Delhi, he rushed to Kashmir. Let Guatam Navlakha sahib come here in winter, I have no problem.”
Asked whether he would make any effort to reach out to the separatists, Omar said, “I have no problem in meeting them. I think their problem is in meeting me. They don’t meet anybody except those who will give them nothing.”
On the house arrest of hardline Hurriyat leader, Syed Ali Geelani, Omar said, “If Geelani wants a readymade audience outside mosques on Fridays, I’ll not allow that.
“I won’t allow anybody to disrupt the peaceful environment in Kashmir. Geelani sahib is free to go anywhere on other days. Wherever Geelani sahib went on Fridays, stone pelting started.”