A day after the Centre said there was ?trust deficit and governance deficit? in Jammu and Kashmir and asked chief minister Omar Abdullah to ?deliver?, Congress president Sonia Gandhi reached out to former ally PDP, a bitter rival of the ruling National Conference. Omar?s party, on the other hand, blamed the UPA government for not fulfilling promises made to the young chief minister whose image as ?Delhi?s man? worked against him in the Valley.
Incidentally, PDP patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed also landed in New Delhi on the eve of the all-party meeting although his daughter and party president Mehbooba Mufti maintained that it was for health check up.
For the first time since the Abdullah government had taken charge about twenty months ago, Gandhi called up both father and daughter on Eid day. Mehbooba refused to discuss the phone call, saying it was a ?personal call?. She told The Indian Express that her party did not endorse the NC demand for amendments in the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act and its partial withdrawal.
?It is unfortunate that people either take the extreme position that nothing can be done in Kashmir because of the demand for azaadi and, therefore, the military situation or they just make it simplistic. When the situation in Kashmir started developing, Omar said it was political and blamed the PDP for it. Today he is again simplifying it. The issue of revocation of AFSPA is important, but the NC is simplifying the issue by demanding cosmetic changes like withdrawal of the AFSPA. He is looking for a face-saver. They think withdrawing it from some areas will give this government a few more days. We need to have a holistic, inclusive approach,? Mehbooba said on phone from Srinagar.
Parliamentary affairs minister Pawan Kumar Bansal had called her to request the PDP?s participation in the all-party meet tomorrow. Calling the meeting ?very important?, Mehbooba said that though all flights to Delhi had been suspended, her party was trying to send somebody to attend it. She refused to discuss the party?s stance at the all-party meet. Mehbooba said her father had gone to Jammu three days ago for a health check and had flown to Delhi today for the same reason.
Meanwhile, National Conference leader and Rajya Sabha MP GM Ratanpuri sought to blame the Centre for the unrest in Kashmir. ?When Rahul Gandhi came to Kashmir, he said he was there because Omar was his friend. The perception is that Rahul?s influence was phenomenal in his selection as chief minister. NC workers, however, perceive that he (Omar) has not been supported sincerely. People think the Government of India has taken us for granted. Some say Omar has Delhi?s support, while his detractors say he is Delhi?s man. For any chief minister, it is a minus point to be perceived as Delhi?s man,? Ratanpuri said.
Claiming that Omar got only ?verbal support? from the Centre, the NC leader attacked both the Congress and the UPA government. ?Coalition with a party in power at the Centre should have made things easier, but it did not. The Planning Commission, which used to be flexible before Omar took over, suddenly started quoting rules and regulations in response to every request. They would treat Jammu & Kashmir like any other state, which it is not. People say Omar is a non-resident chief minister but he did not come to Delhi for a picnic. Promises had been made to him, so he would come here. I cannot put the whole blame on the Centre. May be, there were lapses on our part too. But had the Centre played well, our lapses would not have been registered.?