Srinagar, Aug 3: Omar Abdullah termed evacuation of tourists from valley and halting of yatra as against his expectations, within 24 hours of his meeting with Prime Minster Narendaer Modi. Omar was addressing a press conference at his residence in Srinagar.
“We returned satisfied after the meeting,” Omar said. “But I never expected that within 24 hours of the meeting, an order will be issued to evacuate tourists and the Yatra will be halted.” He said.
Omar accompanied by his father, the party president, Dr Farooq Abdullah met Prime Minister in Delhi, early this week. He said the Prime Minister dropped no hint in the meeting that there was any threat that will even lead to the halt in yatra.
Prior to the presser, a delegation of National Conference lead by Omar Abdullah met the Governor on Saturday morning to discuss the situation of scare and panic.
Governor Satya Pal Malik assured them that there is nothing being done on anything that is making the rumours. He assured them that there is nothing to be worried about.
“The Governor said to me that he has talked to the people in Delhi and they have told him the same thing,but on Jammu and Kashmir, the final word is the Government of India and not the Governor so we seek a statement from the Parliament on this.” Omar said.
He said that the present situation on ground is unprecedented and scary. The yatra has been halted and the tourists from Gulmarg, Pahalgam and Sonamrag have been evacuated.
“We have told the Governor that nobody in the state is offering any idea about what is happening .We are talking to officers and they say they know nothing but insist something is happening.” He added.
Omar said, “An order by Home Secretary, one by police about law and order and another by Railway Police about stocking materials make the situation quite confusing and disturbing” .
He also said the content of the rumours, even if true, are in no way serving the interest of the country.
The Governor, Omar said, repeated again yesterday his earlier statement that the people need not worry about anything and stop believing in rumours.
Omar said that since Dr Farooq is unwell, he will not be able to attend the Lok Saba on Monday, but party’s two MPs Justice Husnain Masoodi and Mohammad Akbar Lone will be in the Parliament on Monday. They will move notice to the Parliament to discuss the order of the Home Secretary Jammu and Kashmir that halted the yatra and triggered the crisis.
Omar while appealing people to maintain calm said that some people would like to encourage people to take law into their own hands but people must control their emotions.
“We will fight whatever happens legally and politically and NC is committed to protect the special status of the state and it is already a party to the case of Article 35-A in the Supreme Court.”
Omar Abdullah said that the people of the state were made some promises at the time of accession, which lacked an expiry date.
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