Omar is Indian apologist: Sheikh Abdur Rashid

J&K’s independent legislator and regional Awami Itehad Party (AIP) leader Engineer Sheikh Abdur Rashid called Omar Abdullah and other mainstream opposition leaders who met President Pranab Mukherjee at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Saturday to seek his intervention in the Kashmir situation as ‘Indian apologists’.

Mr Rashid was part of the opposition’s initiative to ask the government to immediately call a special session of the state legislative to discuss the ongoing unrest in the Valley, its reasons and implications and put an end to the excesses allegedly being perpetuated on the people by security forces. They demanded a judicial probe by a retired judge of the Supreme Court into the “excessive use of force” on civilians and for fixing responsibility.

At a meeting held here on August 17, these parties had also asked the Central government to initiate a ‘meaningful dialogue’ with all stakeholders “given that the issue in Kashmir is largely of a political nature.”

But Mr Rashid chose to walk out on the initiative when, as was claimed by him, his suggestion that all the opposition MLAs should submit their resignations “so that pressure is built upon New Delhi to acknowledge the Kashmir dispute” was ignored by others. His other proposal that the meeting should pass a resolution seeking right to self-determination for the people of J&K also found no takers. This made Mr Rashid drop out of the contingent that went to meet the President.

Mr Rashid accused the former chief minister and other mainstream leaders who met the President of “disrespecting the sentiments of Kashmiri people.” Mr Rashid said: “My stand and the response of other parties has badly exposed their designs and Omar Abdullah may say billion times that he has no interest in Mehbooba Mufti’s resignation but his apologetic and confusing stand over the basic dispute of J&K is ample proof to conclude that he and others don’t want to annoy New Delhi.”

He claimed that it was conveyed to him that if he wants to be part of the delegation, he will have to give up his “core demand” of seeking right to self-determination. “However, I made it clear that I will be the last man to give up the demand of holding plebiscite, as saying or doing so is not against the sovereignty of India and is the most civilized and just way to resolve J&K dispute,” he said.

In Delhi, the opposition leaders led by Mr Abdullah requested the President to urge upon the Central government to find a solution to the present Kashmir crisis politically rather than administratively.