Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said the acceleration of infrastructure development in the Valley has nothing to do with the abrogation of Article 370 that took place on August 5, 2019, urging people not to associate projects with politics.
Talking to India Today TVAbdullah also emphasized that infrastructure projects in Jammu and Kashmir would have been completed without the repeal of Article 370.
“Let’s not connect the infrastructure projects in Jammu and Kashmir with politics around Article 370. None of these projects started after August 5, 2019. None of these projects were launched after August 2019. They were planned much earlier and would have reached completion without the withdrawal of the Article. 370 Most of these infrastructure projects are not in any of the areas that used to see activities such as stone pelting and protests,” Omar Abdullah said.
When asked about the reduction in incidents of terrorism and stone pelting in Jammu and Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370, the Chief Minister admitted that these activities have reduced and the situation in the Valley is much better now.
“I agree that activities such as stone pelting and protests that erupted in 2008, 2010, and 2016, have decreased significantly. However, this is due to the strict measures taken by the government. The disarmament of the CID department, the dismissal of staff, and the unauthorized registration of people are against the principles of natural justice,” he said.
Abdullah further said that there should be justice and fairness in governance. “If the changes in the world are due to a genuine change of heart among the people, it is commendable. But if it comes from fear, one has to question the sustainability of such developments. The current situation in Jammu and Kashmir is a mixture of both,” he said.
The National Congress (NC) leader’s remarks came a day ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Jammu and Kashmir to inaugurate the 6.5-km Z-Morh tunnel, which will make the city of Sonamarg accessible throughout the year.
On Saturday, Abdullah visited Sonamarg to review the arrangements for Prime Minister Modi’s visit on Monday and said the opening of the tunnel would boost tourism and reduce travel time from Srinagar to Kargil and Leh.