Omar Abdullah to PDP: You move one sincere step, I’ll walk 10

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has promised to walk “10 steps” towards the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to address the political issue of the state if the opposition party “moves one step forward sincerely”.

“On this floor of house, I am on record to commit 10 steps forward movement towards the main opposition (PDP) if it rises above politics and moves one step forward sincerely towards me to help address the political issue of Jammu and Kashmir,” Abdullah said in the assembly while replying to the debate on motion of thanks on the governor’s address.

Abdullah had delivered the speech Tuesday but it could not be reported as the entire media had boycotted the assembly proceedings following Speaker Mohammad Akbar Lone’s declaration that the “media works under my control”. That impasse ended Wednesday afternoon.

Listing the achievements of his government, Abdullah added that the state legislature alone could not resolve the Kashmir crisis – Pakistan and China too were involved as parts of the territory were also held by these countries.

Underlining the complexity in addressing the political issues of Jammu and Kashmir, he said “the state legislature alone cannot work out a solution itself” and added that the central government had a “definite role in this regard”.

“When there are parts of Jammu and Kashmir under the occupation of Pakistan and China, we have to look for a comprehensive strategy to address the issue amicably and peacefully,” Abdullah said, seeking the support of all stakeholders.

Highlighting the need for the approach of a statesman rather than a politician, the chief minister said he had told Prime Minister Manmohan Singh that “a politician has eye only on the next election while the statesman looks towards the next generation”.