Although the ruling National Conference is a constituent of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA), Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) president Tariq Hamid Karra minced no words in attacking the Omar Abdullah government on several issues.
Karra's speech in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly on the Lieutenant Governor's address raised many eyebrows, as the Congress leader made it a point to corner the Omar Abdullah government despite being a coalition partner.
Reacting to Karra's remarks, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said that Congress leaders sometimes get annoyed when he praises BJP ministers for supporting Jammu and Kashmir.
Opposing the Lieutenant Governor's address, Karra pointed out that the demand for restoration of statehood was missing from the speech, which he described as a document reflecting the achievements and promises of the Omar Abdullah government.
He demanded that the Centre spell out a clear timeline for restoring statehood to the Union Territory.
Taking part in the motion of thanks on the Lieutenant Governor's address, Karra also suggested the constitution of an all-party MLA panel to facilitate the return and rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits to the Valley.
He said the democratic process in Jammu and Kashmir was restored only after the intervention of the Supreme Court and that, otherwise, the present Assembly would not have been formed.
"The Lieutenant Governor spoke of participatory governance and public trust, but I want to ask how such trust can exist when the people's core demand—restoration of statehood—remains unresolved," Karra said, pointing out that the issue was mentioned in the previous address but omitted this time.
He said the national leadership of the Congress, including party president Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, had repeatedly raised the issue in Parliament and in a letter to the Prime Minister, seeking immediate restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.
"Today, we ask a fundamental question to the central government through this House. They keep saying statehood will be granted at an appropriate time. We should be told what that right time is. What is its measure? What is its standard? And how long will the people of Jammu and Kashmir have to wait?" Karra said.
In a veiled dig at the BJP, he said that while the majority of people are demanding restoration of statehood, some quarters are advocating the creation of Jammu as a separate state.
"History is witness that this idea is not new. In the past, too, some leaders raised such demands, giving rise to regional mistrust. The biggest loss was the weakening of the collective strength of Jammu and Kashmir," he said, stressing the need for unity and communal harmony.
The Congress leader also said that the Lieutenant Governor, in his address, failed to mention two important humanitarian issues—the rehabilitation of migrant Kashmiri Pandits and the problems faced by refugees of 1947, 1965 and 1971.
"I want to make it clear through this House that the rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits is not possible through symbolic or purely economic measures. What is required is a comprehensive, permanent and dignified plan that ensures their security, economic stability and social rights, enabling them to return to their homeland with dignity," he said.
He suggested setting up a standing committee of elected representatives to formally initiate dialogue with the Kashmiri Pandit community and draft a practical, ground-level strategy to ensure their safe and dignified return to the Valley.
Similarly, Karra said that in the case of West Pakistani refugees, the one-time assistance package of ₹30 lakh per family approved by the previous UPA government should be implemented immediately. He pointed out that only ₹5 lakh had been provided so far by the present central government.
"An effective welfare board should be constituted to address their remaining issues, particularly those related to land and settlement, so that this long-pending humanitarian problem can be resolved on a permanent basis," he said.
Omar hits back at Congress
Minutes after Karra opposed the Lieutenant Governor's address, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah took a swipe at Congress leaders for criticising his government.
"I am not a person who hesitates to acknowledge the support extended by the Union Government to the Jammu and Kashmir government from time to time," Omar Abdullah said.
Referring to Karra's speech, the Chief Minister said that whenever he praised the Prime Minister, the Union Home Minister, or the Union Finance Minister, some of his "friends" got annoyed.
"Congress leader Tariq Hamid Karra gets upset whenever I praise the Prime Minister. I am not someone who shies away from acknowledging positive work done for Jammu and Kashmir," Omar Abdullah said.
