Ganderbal ‘Encounter’: Magisterial inquiry ordered by LG will bring facts to fore: CM Omar

Jammu, Apr 6: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Monday endorsed the magisterial inquiry ordered by the Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha in Ganderbal encounter stating that it would bring all facts to the fore which needed to be shared with the people.

He affirmed that he wanted an expeditious inquiry which could unravel the truth hence believed that the route of magisterial probe by LG Sinha was apt as judicial probe was a time-consuming process.

CM’s assertion came, while responding to a media query about the demands of National Conference (NC) legislators for judicial probe in the matter, in the just concluded budget session of J&K legislature.

“I would not get myself entangled in the controversy of judicial or magisterial inquiry because it takes a lot of time in instituting a judicial inquiry. First of all, you don’t find a sitting judge so easily (for holding a probe) as the Supreme Court has restricted it (process) to a great extent. Even the availability of a retired judge for the purpose is not that simple or easy,” CM explained the rationale for his opinion, while speaking to the media after attending official event wherein he distributed 124 government job orders under Rehabilitation Assistance Scheme (RAS), SRO 43 and SRO 94 to the beneficiaries of Jammu at Convention Centre, Jammu.

“I want that in this matter, without wasting time, the probe should be held and the truth should be brought to the fore. We should share all the facts with the people. I believe that the course, adopted by the LG (Lieutenant Governor) Sahib in instituting a magisterial inquiry, is correct. Let this inquiry be completed. It will bring all facts to the fore and the people will come to know about all facts (behind this incident),” he said.

With regard to a query about the Middle East (West Asia) situation in the wake of escalation on the Strait of Hormuz issue and US president Donald Trump’s fresh ultimatum to Iran, CM Omar took exception to repugnant language used by the former (Trump).

“First of all, tell me – does the language used by the President of America behove him and his (US President’s) office? The choice of expressions, which cannot be even uttered or repeated by you (media) or me and you (media) will have to censor those (cuss) words in your broadcast. However, the President of America is using that kind of language in one of his social media posts. I believe that he should maintain the dignity of his office and the Oval office,” the Chief Minister shared his contempt for Trump’s use of offensive language on his social media handle.

Reference was to the latest expletives-laden post of Trump while renewing his ultimatum to Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz.

With regard to conflict, CM Omar advocated early end to war (in West Asia). “As far as you’ve referred to war, we all are worried about that matter. More it (war) gets prolonged, the more troubles it will bring to us. That is why as I’ve earlier said – we hope for an early ceasefire bringing an end to this war thus paving way for a conducive, peaceful situation across the globe,” he said.

Earlier in his address at the event, he assured to bring in necessary reforms in the Rehabilitation Assistance Scheme which was brought to replace SRO 43 to expedite the process of compassionate appointments.

“However, we have noticed that it (RAS) too has some lacunae. There is a good scope for improvement in it. We will revisit it (scheme) to make the process as swift and efficient as possible,” he reassured.