Manmohan Singh carried forward Vajpayee’s legacy to resolve Kashmir issue: CM

Jammu, Mar 3: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Monday asserted that former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh carried forward his predecessor’s initiative to resolve the Kashmir imbroglio with great honesty and during his (Singh’s) tenure, India and Pakistan had come very close to achieving a breakthrough.

He stated this while paying glowing tributes to the former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, during Obituary References in the Legislative Assembly on the opening day of the J&K Budget session.

“At the international level, he tried to resolve issues related to Jammu and Kashmir. The initiative on this account was not taken by Manmohan Singh Sahib. He got it (an initiative to resolve the Kashmir imbroglio) as a (political) legacy. The beginning was made by his (Singh’s) predecessor, Atal Behari Vajpayee Sahab and General Pervez Musharraf. In between, the regime at the Centre changed and Manmohan Singh came to power. If he wished so he could have discontinued that initiative. But he carried forward Vajpayee’s initiative, taking this political legacy as a great responsibility,” CM Omar recalled.

“In all sincerity, he (Singh) took it forward although the situation in between deteriorated also. If I say that the two nations (India and Pakistan) had come so close to achieving a breakthrough and resolving this issue during the tenure of Manmohan Singh and Musharraf. I don’t feel that I would be able to see that era or that stage ever again in my lifetime,” he said. Omar said that he was fortunate enough to work very closely with him (Singh) and learn a lot from him.

“It’s just a coincidence that during the previous session (first session), during Obituary References, the name of former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee topped the long list of names. During this session, it is another Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s name figured at the top of the list, which was small this time. Singh was born in an undivided India. Despite his humble background, he never used it for serving political ends,” the Chief Minister said.

While tracing his (Singh’s) student life and professional journey, CM Omar said that while studying under the street lamps, he reached Cambridge and Oxford by dint of his hard work.

“Starting as an officer, he rose to the post of Economic Adviser; Planning Commission Deputy Chairperson; Finance Minister and then finally the Prime Minister. Where-ever he worked, he excelled. Undoubtedly India owes its present growth as the world’s fifth largest economy to Dr Singh only. He abolished Licence Raj and laid the foundation of a strong Indian economy,” Omar stated while lauding the contribution of Singh as a great economist, enjoying worldwide acclaim.

While referring to his social or public welfare initiatives, the Chief Minister in particular mentioned Indira Awas Yojana and MGNREGA. Although people were sceptical about this initiative (MGNREGA), it proved to be very successful, he said. Recalling Singh’s contribution to J&K, he said that as the Prime Minister, he established Working Groups to heal the wounds of people.

“Working Groups and measures are still relevant including those related to Kashmiri Pandits’ return and rehabilitation. Before him, nothing concrete was done for them. Jagti township was set up during Singh’s tenure,” he said, adding that even though when he was not the Prime Minister, he worked for J&K and its people with the same poignancy. The Chief Minister also gave credit to the four-laning of the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway; linking Kashmir to the rest of the country by train and starting work on the world’s highest railway bridge over Chenab.

“It is sad that he will not be able to enjoy the train journey via that bridge. Today we are waiting for the Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) for the inauguration of Katra to Srinagar train but it was during Singh’s time when Kashmir linked to the rest of the country,” Omar said recalling moments when he travelled with Singh from Budgam to Banihal by train. To bring to the fore, the qualities of the head and heart of Manmohan Singh, the Chief Minister said that his simplicity and down-to-earth demeanour would win hearts and also narrated a personal experience.

“I have never mentioned this incident before. I had written a letter to him when he was the Prime Minister. Later I gave an interview based on that. Someone from the PMO told him that the protocol was breached by me. He (Singh) called me and said – it was not done. I told him that I did not breach protocol. ‘You can check it and if you still feel the same, I apologise,’ – I told him. But after 15 minutes, he called me again and apologised saying that I was right and no protocol was breached,” Omar poignantly recalled.

He wound up his tribute with a quote from Singh made in a presser. “He had very rightly said- History will be a better judge of me than the contemporary times,” Omar said. The Chief Minister, while paying tributes to ex-Minister Syed Ghulam Hussain Geelani and ex-MLA Ghulam Hassan Parrey, stated that they always remained connected to people, pleading for their cause, even during their difficult phase in the nineties. He paid homage to former MP Shamsher Singh Manhas also.

In his tributes to ex-MLA Choudhary Piara Singh, he recalled moments of his frequent interactions with him during 2002, when he (Piara Singh) was in opposition representing BJP from Gandhinagar assembly segment and also as Transport Association leader.

“Farooq Sahab was the Chief Minister. Singh would robustly fight for people’s cause as an opposition leader. Briefly, he was with NC as well. His ties with my father have always been very cordial,” the Chief Minister recalled.

“I hope that Vikram Randhawa would take a cue from his father and would lead and serve people’s cause,” he said. BJP MLA Randhawa is the son of Choudhary Piara Singh.

LA pays glowing tributes to former PM, legislators

The Legislative Assembly of Jammu and Kashmir, which convened today for Budget Session, paid glowing tributes to former Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, other former parliamentarians and legislators who passed away since the last session.

During the Obituary References, the Speaker remembered the contribution of former Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh in shaping the economy of the country. He remembered him as a statesman, whose contribution to this Nation will be remembered forever.

The Speaker also paid glowing tributes to former MP, former Minister, Syed Ghulam Hussain Geelani; Shamsher Singh Manhas; former MLAs, Ghulam Hassan Parrey and Choudhary Piara Singh.

During the obituary reference, MLAs Mubarak Gul, Sham Lal Sharma, Dr Narinder Singh, Dr Bashir Ahmad Shah Veeri, Ghulam Ahmad Mir, Mohmmad Yousuf Tarigami, Abdul Majeed Larmi, Mohd Rafiq Naikoo, Vikram Randhawa, Nizamuddin Bhat, Satish Kumar Sharma and Iftikhar Ahmed also paid tributes to former Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh and other former parliamentarians and legislators who passed since the last session was convened.

The Speaker and members of the House also held two-minute silence in their remembrance.