Jammu: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said on Monday that India and Pakistan came closer to resolving the Kashmir issue during the Manmohan Singh-led UPA government, and he is not expecting a return to the situation in his lifetime.
The Assembly observed a two-minute silence to honour Singh, along with four other former legislators who passed away since the last assembly session in November. Those remembered included former minister Syed Ghulam Hussain Geelani, former Rajya Sabha MP Shamsher Singh Manhas, and former MLAs Ghulam Hassan Parrey and Choudhary Piara Singh.
Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather moved the obituary reference after Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha's address. Several members, including Sham Lal Sharma (BJP), G A Mir (Congress), and M Y Tarigami (CPIM), also spoke in the House.
Abdullah talked about Singh's journey from a village, which is now in Pakistan, to becoming the Prime Minister of India and his contributions towards making India an economic power by introducing reforms, especially related to the private sector and social welfare measures.
On J-K, "he tried to address the problem with the outside country (Pakistan). He did not make this initiative but inherited it as the start was made by Vajpayee and (then Pakistan president Gen. Pervez) Musharraf. He would have stopped the initiative after taking over as the prime minister (in 2004), but he was well aware that the initiative taken by Vajpayee is a big responsibility to carry forward,” the chief minister said.
“May I say that both the countries have come closer to resolving this (Kashmir) problem during that period, and I do not see a return to the situation in my lifetime” Abdullah said.
Abdullah praised Manmohan Singh's efforts to address the Kashmir issue, setting up working groups in 2010 that remain relevant today. He also acknowledged Singh's practical steps for the welfare of displaced Kashmiri Pandits. Singh introduced job reservations for the community in Kashmir and established the Jagti township in Jammu, providing relief to Pandits living in tents.
Abdullah discussed infrastructure improvements in Jammu and Kashmir, highlighting the upgraded Jammu-Srinagar national highway and a four-lane project gifted by Singh. The chief minister also mentioned a railway project connecting Kashmir to the rest of the country, awaiting inauguration by the prime minister, hoped to happen soon. Abdullah recalled accompanying the former prime minister to launch the Banihal section of the rail link and noted that work on the Chenab bridge, the world's highest railway bridge, began during his time.
He said Singh was the most misunderstood leader and was right in saying that history would judge him more kindly.
Omar Abdullah praised Manmohan Singh's "down-to-earth" personality, highlighting his willingness to listen to the people of Kashmir during a difficult time in 2016. Abdullah recalled a personal experience where Singh apologised for mistakenly assuming Abdullah had leaked letter contents to the media.
Others also paid tribute to Singh's legacy, including Tarigami, who emphasised the need for improved relations between India and Pakistan. BJP's Sharma credited Singh with laying the groundwork for India's economic growth, which has enabled the country to become the fifth-largest economy globally.
(inputs from PTI)