CM Omar backtracks again on re-investigation

SYED ALI SAFVI

SRINAGAR, June 5: It seems chief minister, Omar Abdullah, has developed an uncanny knack of backtracking on his statements. Just hours after the chief minister told a New Delhi-based English news channel that there was a question mark on a number of encounters in the state, which were being re-investigated, Omar Abdullah, later in the evening, backtracked saying that his government had received numerous complaints questioning the authenticity of encounters, but all the complaints were dismissed and proven false.

Pertinently, earlier in the day, speaking on NDTV's show “Left Right and Centre”, Omar had, on record, said “J&K police has been flooded with complaints questioning the authenticity of encounters, all of which are being reinvestigated”.

Criticising the lack of transparency in the Army, Omar had also accused the Army of acting as “the judge, the jury and the executioner in the state”.

Talking to media persons on the sidelines of the inauguration ceremony of Rs 18 crore Sangarmal Shopping Complex here this evening, the chief minister said that if people had doubts about the genuineness of any encounter, they should file a complaint with the state police.

Referring to the infamous Machil encounter, he said that defense minister, AK Antony, had already assured that anybody found guilty would not be spared.

Earlier, speaking to an audience comprising mainly of bureaucrats, after inaugurating state of the art Sangarmal Shopping Complex, Omar appealed the residents of Srinagar to exercise restraint, and not play into the hands of those elements who “want to spoil your life”.

Referring to the protests in the city today over alleged blasphemous sketch of Al-Aqsa Mosque on some garment, Omar said that it was just a rumour blown out of proportion.

“Islam is a religion of peace. Our religion teaches us to exercise restraint,” he said, asking the Srinagarites not to strengthen the hands of those elements who do not want them to prosper.
He said that people had gone berserk after the killing of Maisuma boy, alleging that the boy was killed by police.

“Later, after investigation it was revealed that he was killed by his friends,” he said. “But the damage had been done. Students, businessmen suffered a lot during the strike days.”

Omar asked the people to give his government a chance to “set the things right”.

“Major problems facing Srinagar city are of inadequate housing, traffic chaos, inefficient drainage system and many others,” he said, adding that his government wants to make Srinagar city a model city.

He said that government was mulling over an idea of establishing a satellite colony in Srinagar.

“We are bound by promise to develop this city on modern lines,” he said.

Omar expressed hope that Sangarmal complex would act as trade and recreational hub, suggesting running of quality food courts in the complex.

Speaking on the occasion, deputy CM, Tara Chand, said that many projects have been envisaged to upgrade the drainage in the city and smoothen the movement of traffic. He said modern complexes are being constructed at Nowgam Railway head for which land acquisition has been started.

In his address, minister of state for housing and urban development, Nasir Aslam Wani, spelt out salient features of the works launched in the city for upgradation of basic amenities including sanitation and drainage.

Pertinently, the inauguration of Sangarmal Shopping Complex had been delayed due to different reasons in the past. Deputy chief minister, Tara Chand, had wished inauguration of the complex by the Congress president and UPA chairperson, Sonia Gandhi. He had also invited the UPA chairperson to inaugurate the complex. However, Sonia, later, ignored the invitation of Tara Chand, and also cancelled her Srinagar visit.

Vice chairman Srinagar Development Authority (SDA), Kifayat Hussain Rizvi, also spoke on the occasion.
The first of its kind shopping complex has 62 shops, food courts and kiosks. It also has a facility of escalators and lifts.