Jammu: Former Chief Minister and Working President of the opposition National Conference Omar Abdullah on Tuesday while questioning the role of interlocutor Dineshwar Sharma said that he was acting like the ‘super chief minister’.
Omar, while referring to Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti said that it was her job to look into problems regarding to power, water supply and unemployment issues.
The former chief minister, while speaking in the Assembly said that the government should come clear on Sharma’s mandate.
“What is the mission of the special representative? If he works like a super chief minister, as we hear, by meeting delegations to look into the problems with regard to power, water, non-availability of doctors at hospital, unemployment issues. (But) It is your job,” Omar said.
He added, “You (Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and Sharma) are treading on parallel tracks…. It is your responsibility and not Sharma’s to set right electricity transformers, to improve water supply or giving job orders to unemployed youth. If he is a special representative, as was mentioned by the governor in his speech, his responsibility should be different.”
Omar pointed out that government should tell the people about the ‘real’ status of Sharma. While referring to the Hurriyat leaders, Omar said that Sharma should talk to those people who can facilitate in solving bigger problems.
“After the prime minister’s speech, we were hopeful of a new beginning and we waited and waited. Then, suddenly, an announcement was made about the nomination of Sharma but soon after confusion took over,” he said,
He further added, “First we don t know what is the real status of Sharma. You said he is a special representative, and in speeches and interviews he was given the status of interlocutor, but MoS in PMO (Jitendra Singh) said he is not an interlocutor but a spokesman,” Omar said.
The NC Working President also asked that is Sharma preparing a report which would be submitted in the Parliament.
“He has the mandate to talk to who all? MoS PMO says that the talks will be held within the frame work of Constitution while MoS Home says the talks won t be held with separatists. You are saying he will talk with everyone who is ready for talks but the home minister says Sharma himself will decide with whom to talk,” he said.
While again reiterating that Sharma’s mandate should be clear, Omar asked, ” Is not here on his own will? How he would say he will talk to separatist leaders Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq or Yaseen Malik.”
Omar cautioned the government that if the “past mistakes” are repeated, “people won’t have much faith” in the exercise.
“Some are our mistakes, some we inherited. If you are not setting right the past mistakes or adding another chapter, then what is the fun,” he said.
