The Hindu : Front Page : “Ours is a long-term alliance with the Congress”

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Tuesday, May 05, 2009
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Front Page

“Ours is a long-term alliance with the Congress”

We believe that in the interest
of Jammu and Kashmir, a continuity at
the Centre will
help us

At 38, Omar Abdullah has the distinction of being the youngest Chief Minister in the country. His National Conference is heading the coalition government in Jammu and Kashmir with the Congress as its main ally. While campaigning for his candidates, the NC chief talks about his dreams of making Jammu and Kashmir a model State. Targeting the People’s Democratic Party, his arch rival, is the focal point of his campaign.

He spoke to SHUJAAT BUKHARI at his Gupkar residence.

How different is this election from the one in December?

This is surely different, though I see the same stage, the same people and, to an extent, the same script. But the tone and tenor is certainly not that of the Assembly election which is fought on the issues of day-to-day problems and development. In this election we talk about larger political issues and tell people who would be the best Prime Minister.

Will the Hurriyat’s boycott call impact the turnout?

Even if the turnout is low, it should not been seen in the backdrop of anybody’s call for a boycott. Generally, the trend is that the turnout in the Parliament election is low. If you see the figures, the turnout in the 2004 Parliament elections here was low compared to the 2002 Assembly elections. People are more attached to Assembly elections for varied reasons; candidates being local and many other issues. In Jammu and Udhampur constituencies, we saw a low turnout in the first two phases and there was no influence of the party you mentioned.

Which seat is more important to you in Kashmir as they are different in dynamics?

We would certainly have all the three. All are equally important for us. We would like to retain two seats in central and north Kashmir and would like to regain south Kashmir. To which extent we will be successful, only time will tell. We got only one seat out of 16 in south Kashmir in the Assembly elections, but this time the situation has changed.

Ladakh was the bone of contention between the NC and the Congress before the elections began and now it looks like a friendly contest. Your former MP is also in the fray.

No, it is not a friendly contest at all. There was a friendly contest between the PDP and the Congress in 2004 elections in Baramulla where they fought on their own symbols. But here, there is no NC symbol and we are supporting the Congress candidate.

We had talked about these apprehensions to the Congress before deciding on the seat but somehow it did not materialise. Our party man Hassan Khan has gone against the party decision, that is true but he is not our candidate. The party is contemplating action against him.

What will be your equation with the Congress if it does not come to power at the Centre. Will you think of changing your stance?

No, not at all. I think the clear indication of that was in the Rahul Gandhi’s speech in south Kashmir. This is not a short-term alliance nor are we looking at short-term gains. This is a long-term scenario and there will be no major changes. Yes, we believe that in the interest of Jammu and Kashmir a continuity at the Centre will help us. Whichever government comes to power at the Centre will have to give all the States their due share, and J&K will also get its share.

Regional parties are playing an important role and are emerging as a potent force.

It is a good thing that the regional forces are representing the aspirations of the people. But unfortunately, whenever regional parties come together to form a government at the Centre with outside support from a big party, it is inherently an unstable arrangement. As much as we might like a third alternative to the Congress and the BJP, we haven’t had any success. Only large parties have succeeded in leading the governments at the Centre. Manmohan Singh’s government is an example. I cannot imagine a regional party-driven government achieving the nuclear deal or the job guarantee and other people friendly schemes.

But the NC has a special character as a regional party.

At no point of time has the Congress asked us to shun our political agenda nor do we expect the Congress to shed its own. We are in the process of working out a road map for governance and development. And we expect the Centre to help us in fulfilling our objectives.

Will you pursue autonomy as is evident in the campaign?

Of course, we will pursue it. It is our road map for the political resolution of the Kashmir issue. We believe that is the only viable and pragmatic solution to the problem.

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